The Hobbit - illustrated paperback - Softcover

Tolkien, J. R. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0261103318 ISBN 13: 9780261103313

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000

Synopsis

The first softback edition of the superb illustrated edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduring classic.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s great classic work, The Hobbit, celebrated its 60th year of publication (1937) with a gorgeous illustrated edition by artist Alan Lee, winner of the Kate Greenaway medal for illustration, and creator of the fabulously successful Centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings.

Containing 22 full colour illustrations depicting key scenes from this all-time classic (scenes such as Gollum and Bilbo, The Wargs, Smaug the Dragon and The Battle of the Five Armies), this beautiful volume also includes a wealth of integrated pencil drawings which demonstrate perfectly Alan’s genius at work.

About this title

About the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold many millions of copies world wide.

Alan Lee is the creator of the highly successful illustrated edition of The Lord of the Rings, and winner of the 1994 Kate Greenaway Medal for Children’s Book Illustration. He is currently working as a production designer on New Line Cinema’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

From the Back Cover

Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug's left eye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance…

Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in Bag End by Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Although quite reluctant to take part in this quest, Bilbo surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar!

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published in 1937. This special edition contains 65 illustrations, 26 of them in full colour, specially commissioned from artist Alan Lee to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of its publication.

'A finely written saga of dwarves and elves, fearsome goblins and trolls … an exciting epic of travel and magical adventure, all working up to a devastating climax'
OBSERVER

'One of the most influential books of our generation'
THE TIMES

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0261103318
• ISBN 13: 9780261103313
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Lee Alan
• Number of pages: 304