Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Mairi

The respectable Bilbo Baggins lives a peaceful life in the Shire until Gandalf and a host of dwarves apppears on his doorstep one morning. They are in the service of Thorin Oakenshield, who is going to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim his kingdom from the dragon Smaug, and they want Bilbo to come along with them.

This book is, officially, the prelude to Lord of the Rings, but I have always felt that you should read this book first, read Lord of the Rings, then read The Hobbit again. I have done that and, as in the case of Lord of the Rings, I get more out of it, and like it better, each time.

The Hobbit is a great book for reading aloud, too.