The History of The Hobbit

The History of The Hobbit (The Making of The Hobbit ) was founded in 2007 by John D. Rateliff issued. He has compiled and commented on the early manuscripts of the writer and philologist JRR Tolkien , which he wrote on the story of the Little Hobbit , in this book. The book was published in the United States by Houghton Mifflin in Boston and in the United Kingdom by HarperCollins in London.

background

The Hobbit was published on September 21, 1937, Rateliff illuminates the development from the first drafts to the first edition of the book and the later adaptations. Some of the characters and events have changed significantly, differing from the original version Tolkien told his sons. The book is the first to provide a glimpse into these original versions, which also includes some unknown illustrations and previously unpublished maps. It includes extensive annotations and commentaries from the time the story was written, shows what influence Tolkien's early mythological writings on Middle-earth had on the content or geographical descriptions, but also how The Hobbit addressed the events in the years after its publication had to be adapted to the story of the Lord of the Rings .

Rateliff examined the texts from a literary point of view, commenting on each individual chapter and pointing out contemporary or historical sources that Tolkien may have influenced or served as inspiration. He presents the full, unpublished text of the original manuscript of Tolkien's Hobbit, with his own comments on how the book came about and why changes were made before and after its publication, and how it reflects Tolkien's ever-expanding concept of Middle-earth.

Partial volumes

The first volume tells of the adventures of Mr. Baggins ( Bilbo Baggins ), which he experienced on his journey to the seaside town . There the original conception of the encounter between the hobbit and the creature Gollum is told. The book contains early maps and illustrations not used later.

The second part describes the events on the Lonely Mountain up to the return of the hobbit to his hometown. The book also contains a handwritten version of the letter from Thorin & Co. to Bilbo, written in Tengwar characters .

expenditure

• JRR Tolkien, John D. Rateliff: Mr. Baggins . The History of The Hobbit. Part 1. HarperCollins, London 2007, ISBN 978-0-00-723555-1 .
• JRR Tolkien, John D. Rateliff: Return to Bag-End. The History of The Hobbit. Part 2. HarperCollins, London 2007, ISBN 978-0-00-725066-0 .
• JRR Tolkien, John D. Rateliff: The History of The Hobbit . Parts 1 and 2. Houghton Mifflin, Boston 2007, ISBN 978-0-618-96847-3 (Including The Hobbit ).
• JRR Tolkien, John D. Rateliff: The History of The Hobbit . HarperCollins, London 2011 ( co.uk ).
• JRR Tolkien, John D. Rateliff: A Brief History of The hobbit . HarperCollins, London 2015, ISBN 978-0-00-755725-7 (reprint of both volumes in abridged version).

Web links

• The History of The Hobbit. Tolkien Gateway, accessed April 3, 2017 . 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ History of the Hobbit: An essential resource book for the forthcoming movie adaptation of The Hobbit (October 13, 2006). In: tolkienlibrary.com. Retrieved April 3, 2017 . 
2. ↑ Thorin's letter on i.imgur.com