{"product_id":"the-history-of-the-hobbit","title":"The History of the Hobbit","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn one volume for the first time, this revised and updated examination of how J.R.R. Tolkien came to write his original masterpiece \u003ci\u003eThe Hobbit\u003c\/i\u003e includes his complete unpublished draft version of the story, together with notes and illustrations by Tolkien himself.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hobbit\u003c\/i\u003e was first published on September 21,1937. Like its sequel, \u003ci\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/i\u003e, it is a story that \"grew in the telling,\" and many characters and plot threads in the published text are quite different from the story the celebrated fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote to read aloud to his young sons as one of their \"fireside reads.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTogether in one volume, \u003ci\u003eThe History of the Hobbit\u003c\/i\u003e presents the complete text of the unpublished manuscript of \u003ci\u003eThe Hobbit\u003c\/i\u003e, accompanied by John Rateliff's lively and informative account of how the book came to be written and published. Recording the numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication, he examines--chapter by chapter--why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of Middle-earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e As well as reproducing the original version of one of the world's most popular novels--both on its own merits and as the foundation for \u003ci\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/i\u003e--this essential companion guide includes many little-known illustrations and draft maps for \u003ci\u003eThe Hobbit\u003c\/i\u003e by Tolkien himself. Also featured are extensive commentaries on the dates of composition, how Tolkien's professional and early mythological writings influenced the story, the imaginary geography he created, and how Tolkien came to revise the book years after publication to accommodate events in \u003ci\u003eThe Lord of the Rings\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndorsed by Christopher Tolkien as a companion to his essential 12-volume \u003ci\u003eThe History of Middle-earth\u003c\/i\u003e, this thoughtful and exhaustive examination of one of the most treasured stories in English literature offers fascinating new insights into the making of The Hobbit for those who have grown up with this enchanting tale, and will delight any who are about to enter Bilbo's round door for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Morrow \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51942927630567,"sku":"9780063330788","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_bf043d4f-e743-40a4-a9e7-b1cd80d5c70a.jpg?v=1775272344","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/the-history-of-the-hobbit","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}