The Hobbit. J. R. R. Tolkien

      

THE HOBBIT

       COPYRIGHT

      HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street

      London SE1 9GF

      www.tolkien.co.uk

      This new reset edition is based on the edition

      first published in 1995

      First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 1991 Fifth edition (reset) 1995

      First published in Great Britain by George Allen & Unwin 1937

      Second edition 1951

      Third edition 1966

      Fourth edition 1978

      Cover design by Holly Macdonald © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

      Cover photographs © Shutterstock.com

      Copyright © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, 1965

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      Source ISBN: 9780007525492

      Ebook Edition © MARCH 2009 ISBN: 9780007322602

      Version: 2020-03-23

      The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves, in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving, unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar.

      Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves and giant spiders, conversations with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of the Five Armies are some of the adventures that befall Bilbo. But there are lighter moments as well: good fellowship, welcome meals, laughter and song.

      Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children’s fiction. Written for Professor Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant acclaim when published. It is a complete and marvellous tale in itself, but it also forms a prelude to The Lord of the Rings.

      ‘One of the most influential books of our generation’

       The Times

      CONTENTS

       COVER PAGE

       TITLE PAGE

COPYRIGHT

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

NOTE ON THE TEXT

AUTHOR’S NOTE

CHAPTER I: AN UNEXPECTED PARTY

CHAPTER II: ROAST MUTTON

CHAPTER III: A SHORT REST

CHAPTER IV: OVER HILL AND UNDER HILL

       CHAPTER V: RIDDLES IN THE DARK

       CHAPTER VI: OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE

       CHAPTER VII: QUEER LODGINGS

       CHAPTER VIII: FLIES AND SPIDERS

       CHAPTER IX: BARRELS OUT OF BOND

       CHAPTER X: A WARM WELCOME

       CHAPTER XI: ON THE DOORSTEP

       CHAPTER XII: INSIDE INFORMATION

       CHAPTER XIII: NOT AT HOME

       CHAPTER XIV: FIRE AND WATER

       CHAPTER XV: THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS

       CHAPTER XVI: A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

       CHAPTER XVII: THE CLOUDS BURST

       CHAPTER XVIII: THE RETURN JOURNEY

       CHAPTER XIX: THE LAST STAGE

       KEEP READING

       WORKS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN

       ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

       ILLUSTRATIONS

       Thror’s Map

       The