"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the
most beloved and delightful tales in the English language.
Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and
a modern fairy tale, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of
literature's most enduring and well-loved novels. The text in this
372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great
Britain by Collins Modern Classics and includes a note on the text by
Douglas A. Anderson.
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life,
rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his
contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of
dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an
adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded
by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.
Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the
Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening
creature known as Gollum.
Written for Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions
of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.