J.R.R. Tolkien: The hobbit, or, There and back again (1966, Houghton Mifflin)
255 pages
English language
Published Dec. 19, 1966 by Houghton Mifflin.
The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and skill as a burglar.
Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves, and giant spiders, conversations with the dragon, Smaug, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of Five Armies are just some of the adventures that befall Bilbo.
Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children’s fiction. Written by Professor Tolkien for his children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published.
Content warning Spoilers
I was told that thin is a children’s book but it still took me a bit to fully realize it.
Some of the narration is very focused on children. Once I understood that, I really got to enjof the story. I was a bit confused when Smaug just left the Bilbo and dwarves but it made sense afterwards.
Overall, pretty good!
Dois-je vraiment présenter le Hobbit ? Grand classique qui se lit très facilement, aux allures de conte pour enfant. Un prérequis avant d'attaquer le Seigneur des Anneaux.
It's been a couple of decades since I last read The Hobbit, but the story still holds up. This new audiobook edition is read by Andy Serkis (the actor who voiced and played Gollum, among many others). His voice acting is spectacular and really adds to the book. Highly recommended!
