The History of the Hobbit: One Volume Edition by J. R. R. Tolkien

The History of the Hobbit: One Volume Edition brings together, in a single volume for the first time, a revised and updated study of how J. R. R. Tolkien came to write The Hobbit. Alongside this examination is Tolkien’s complete unpublished draft of the story, presented with his own notes and illustrations.

First published on 21 September 1937, The Hobbit is described as a tale that “grew in the telling”. This volume explores how the published text differs from the version Tolkien originally wrote to read aloud to his young sons as one of their “fireside reads”, with characters and plot threads developing over time.

Key details

• One-volume, revised and updated edition
• Includes the complete unpublished draft manuscript of The Hobbit
• Features notes, illustrations and draft maps by J. R. R. Tolkien
• Accompanied by John Rateliff’s chapter-by-chapter account of the book’s writing and publication
• Records changes made before and after the 1937 publication
• Endorsed by Christopher Tolkien as a companion to The History of Middle-earth (12-volume)

Synopsis

This volume presents the full text of Tolkien’s unpublished manuscript of The Hobbit, with commentary that traces how the story was written, revised and published. John Rateliff examines the many alterations made to the narrative, chapter by chapter, and considers why they were introduced and how they relate to Tolkien’s developing concept of Middle-earth.

It also includes extensive discussion of composition dates, the influence of Tolkien’s professional and early mythological writings, the imaginary geography he devised, and later revisions made to accommodate events in The Lord of the Rings. Little-known illustrations and draft maps by Tolkien are reproduced throughout.