On September 21, 1937 J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was first published.
It was the book that opened the door to another world. It allowed readers to enter the perilous realm.
Instead of saying more about the book or what it has meant to me, I decided to mention the versions of the book I own along with a few related to it that readers would enjoy.
The Hobbit or There and Back Again, Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0-618-00221-9, paperback. This is my reading copy. I don’t mind it getting read, used, dropped, and whatever other calamity occurs to the books we love to read.
The Hobbit 75th Anniversary Edition, Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 978-0-547-92822-7, paperback. 75 years only happens once, so I bought it and put it on the shelf.
The Hobbit or There and Back Again, Houghton Mifflin Company, ISBN 0-395-07122-4, hardcover. It seemed to me that I should have a basic, proper, hardcover edition, in addition to my everyday use paperback and this served the purpose.
The Hobbit, Facsimile Gift Set, Harper Collins, ISBN 978-0-00-744083-2, hardcover. Original as printed in 1937 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd and includes a CD of Tolkien reading excerpts from Chapters 1, 2, and 5; the map; and a commemorative booklet which includes a brief history of the Hobbit, publication, and later editions, the poem ‘the Hoard’, his lecture “On Dragons” and his essay “Dragons”. This was not cheap, but worth every cent. This edition was suggested in a chat during Oxonmoot several years ago and I’ve since recommended it to many people for the lecture and essay on dragons alone, as this is the only place I’ve found them published.
The Hobbit Illustrated Edition, illustrated by Jemina Catlin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, ISBN 978-0-544-17422-1, hardcover. Yes, I got it for the illustrations and it is a very nice volume, weighty in the hand and well-done overall.
The Annotated Hobbit, annotated by Douglas A. Anderson, Houghton Mifflin Company, ISBN 0-618-13470-0, hardcover. This edition includes tid-bits throughout including images, illustrations, facts, origins of phrases, and many other interesting points to make your reading of the story so much more.
The History of the Hobbit, One-Volume Edition, by John D. Rateliff, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 978-0-00-744082-5, hardcover. Since Christopher couldn’t do everything, though he came close, Rateliff approached the Hobbit in the manner of HoME. The One-Volume is massive, but to be able to see the story as it went through revisions is a special experience and provides moments of both I wonder if and thank goodness he changed that!
In addition to the books with the text of the Hobbit inclusive, these are some closely related or supplemental books to provide a better understanding of the story and themes. I am sure there are many more, but these two are the ones I have in my collection. As the titles explain, Olsen explores and Hillman’s is laser focused and takes a wonderful deep-dive.
Exploring JRR Tolkien’s the Hobbit, Corey Olsen, Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 978-0-544-10663-5, paperback.
Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring, Thomas P. Hillman, Kent State University Press, ISBN 978-1-60635-471-1, paperback.
Finally, the Hobbit is not complete without the Lord of the Rings and neither are complete without Bilbo’s Last Song. If you are unfamiliar, this is a very short work written by the Professor and illustrated by Pauline Baynes of Bilbo recounting his adventures as he says good-bye to Middle-earth and sets sail from the Grey Havens.
Bilbo’s Last Song, illustrated by Pauline Baynes, Alfred A. Knopf, 978-0-375-82373-2, hardcover
If you don’t have some of these, and are looking to expand your collection, you can’t go wrong with any of them, but if you have questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll be glad to reply.
Also, if you have some I should pick up, please let me know, I’m always looking to expand my collection!
Ross Raymond Nunamaker 