The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a 287-page paperback published by Ballantine Books, New York, first printing in August, 1965, this copy is the fifty-fourth printing of April, 1975. The cover has minor wear and a couple dried water marks to the top edge.  Inside, the pages are tanned around the page borders.  There is a remainder mark on the top edge. Book Summary In this delightful and enthralling tale, J.R.R. Tolkien first created the imperishable world of fantasy called Middle-earth, and those charming, indomitable creatures, the hobbits, whose adventures are continued in "The Lord of the Rings." And What is a Hobbit? Hobbits are little people, smaller than dwarves.  They love peace and quiet and good tilled earth.  They dislike machines, but they are handy with tools.  They are nimble but don't like to hurry.  They have sharp ears and eyes.  They are inclined to be fat.  They wear bright colors but seldom wear shoes.  They like to laugh and eat (six meals a day) and drink.  They like parties and they like to give and receive presents.  They inhabit a land they call The Shire, a place between the River Brandywine and the Far Downs.   The Hobbit is a story of these delightful creatures--a story complete in itself yet full of portent.  For this is the book that tells of Bilbo Baggins, the far-wandering hobbit who discovered (some say stole) the One Ring of Power and brought it back to The Shire.   And so this is the absolutely necessary beginning to the great story of the War of the Rings which J.R.R. Tolkien completes in his epic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.  SBN:  345-24826-0-175