The Hobbit

This revised edition from January 1982 is "The Authorized Edition of the Fantasy Classic." Originally published in 1937, The Hobbit established the foundation for modern fantasy literature and introduced readers to Middle-earth.

The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfortable hobbit who is thrust into adventure when the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves recruit him for a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug. The journey transforms Bilbo from a provincial homebody into a clever hero who discovers courage, resourcefulness, and his own capacity for adventure. The story introduces key elements of Middle-earth mythology, including the One Ring that would become central to The Lord of the Rings.

The Hobbit established the modern fantasy genre and demonstrated that fairy tales could appeal to both children and adults. Tolkien's creation of a fully realized secondary world with its own languages, histories, and cultures set new standards for fantasy literature. The book's success enabled Tolkien to develop his legendarium further in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Tolkien began the story by writing "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" on a blank page while grading exam papers. The book evolved from bedtime stories he told his children. The original publication contained several inconsistencies with later Middle-earth chronology, which Tolkien revised in subsequent editions. The 1982 authorized edition incorporated many of these corrections while preserving the story's original charm.