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{{book|
{{book
title=The History of ''The Hobbit''|
|title=''The History of The Hobbit''
image=[[Image:The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins.jpg|225px]]|
|image=[[File:The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins.jpg|275px]]
author=[[John D. Rateliff]]|
|author=[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
isbn=|
| illustrator=J.R.R. Tolkien
publisher=[[HarperCollins]]; [[Houghton Mifflin]]|
| editor=[[John D. Rateliff]]
date=May 2007 (1st ed.)|
|publisherUK=[[HarperCollins]]
format=Hardcover|
|publisherUS=[[Houghton Mifflin]]
pages=|
|date=vol.1: [[1 May]] [[2007]]<br>vol.2: [[18 June]] [[2007]]
amazon=|
|format=Hardcover
amazonprice=
|pages=480 (each volume)
|isbn=0007235550
|isbn2=0007250665
}}
}}
'''''The History of''''' '''The Hobbit''' traces the evolution of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Hobbit]]'' through the various extant manuscripts and drafts (formerly unpublished). The editor, [[John D. Rateliff]], presents an extensive study on the early development of ''The Hobbit'', and also details how Tolkien made revisions to the story to accommodate the events in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
'''''The History of The Hobbit''''' is a two-volume study of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s novel ''[[The Hobbit]]'', published in [[2007]].


==First Edition==
It contains Tolkien's unpublished drafts of the novel, with commentary by [[John D. Rateliff]]. It also details Tolkien's various revisions to ''The Hobbit'', including abandoned revisions for the unpublished third edition of the work, intended for 1960, as well as previously unpublished original maps and illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself.
[[Image:Return to Bag End.jpg|thumb|left|Cover of Part Two, ''Return to Bag End'']]
The first edition of ''The History of'' The Hobbit was released in two parts, '''''Mr. Baggins''''' (Part One) and '''''Return to Bag End''''' (Part Two) in May and June of 2007 by HarperCollins, and a boxed set in the U.S. in September by Houghton Mifflin. The [http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=1022629 Houghton Mifflin boxed set] also includes a new edition of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' with a short introduction by [[Christopher Tolkien]], a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien's own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare "Mirkwood" piece.<ref>[http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=1022629 The History of the Hobbit Book Information] at [http://www.hmhbooks.com/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref>


In an interview conducted before the publication, Rateliff described the undertaking in the following way:
An abbreviated version was published by [[HarperCollins]] in [[2015]] as '''''[[A Brief History of The Hobbit]]'''''. This version retains Tolkien's text and the textual notes provided by Rateliff but omits his essays on various aspects of the texts.


{{quote|The big project, which I've been working on for years and will finally be sending to the publisher near the end of this year, is a book called The History of The Hobbit. It's rather along the lines of Christopher Tolkien's editions that make up the History of Middle-Earth series (which I highly recommend if you haven't read them): an edition of the original manuscript of The Hobbit with extensive commentary on how Mr. Baggins' story fits into Tolkien's legendarium. It's a big book filled with the entire text of Tolkien's first draft, along with short essays about everything from rings of invisibility or Tolkien's spiders to a detailed account of just when Tolkien wrote the book (which can actually be reconstructed from available evidence to within a month or two on either end). I hope people will like it when it finally sees the light of day.|[[John Rateliff]]<ref>[http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Rateliff A Talk With John D. Rateliff] at [http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?montejournal Monte's Journal] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref>}}
==First edition==
===Details===
The first edition of ''The History of The Hobbit'' was released in two volumes:  
*''The History of'' The Hobbit: ''Mr. Baggins'' (Part One). 1 May 2007, HarperCollins. Hardcover, 512 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0007235551.
#'''Part One: ''Mr. Baggins'''''
*''The History of'' The Hobbit: ''Return to Bag End'' (Part Two). 18 Jun 2007, HarperCollins. Hardcover, 448 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0007250660.
#'''Part Two: ''Return to Bag-End'''''
*''The History of'' The Hobbit: ''Mr. Baggins'' (Part One). 21 September 2007, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardcover, 512 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0618968473.
First in May and June of [[2007]] in the U.K. by HarperCollins, then in September in the U.S. by Houghton Mifflin, which also released it as a boxed set in October. The [http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=1022629 Houghton Mifflin boxed set] also includes a new edition of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' with a short introduction by [[Christopher Tolkien]], a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien's own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare "Mirkwood" piece.<ref>[http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=1022629 The History of the Hobbit Book Information] at [http://www.hmhbooks.com/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref>
*''The History of'' The Hobbit & ''The Hobbit'' (Boxed set). 26 October 2007, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN-13: 978-0618964406.
*''The Hobbit, Mr Baggins and the Return to Bag-End'': Boxed Set. 3 November 2008, HarperCollins. Hardcover, 960 pages (three volumes). ISBN-13: 978-0261102910.
*''The History of'' The Hobbit: ''Mr. Baggins'' (Part One). 3 March 2008, HarperCollins. Paperback, 480 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0007266463.
*''The History of'' The Hobbit: ''Return to Bag End'' (Part Two). 3 March 2008, HarperCollins. Paperback, 480 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0007266470.


==Second Edition==
In an interview conducted before the publication, Rateliff described the undertaking in the following way:


On 24 March [[2011]], Rateliff announced that HarperCollins is reprinting, together with an Addendum, ''The History of'' The Hobbit as a single-volume book.<ref>[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2011/03/history-of-hobbit-second-edition.html THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition] at [http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/ Sacnoth's Scriptorium] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref> This "''Revised Updated edition''" is expected to be released [[October 27|27 October]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Hobbit-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0007440820/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1301024856&sr=8-5 The History of the Hobbit: One Volume Edition] at [http://www.amazon.co.uk/ref=gno_logo Amazon.co.uk] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref>
{{Blockquote|The big project, which I've been working on for years and will finally be sending to the publisher near the end of this year, is a book called The History of The Hobbit. It's rather along the lines of Christopher Tolkien's editions that make up the History of Middle-Earth series (which I highly recommend if you haven't read them): an edition of the original manuscript of The Hobbit with extensive commentary on how Mr. Baggins' story fits into Tolkien's legendarium. It's a big book filled with the entire text of Tolkien's first draft, along with short essays about everything from rings of invisibility or Tolkien's spiders to a detailed account of just when Tolkien wrote the book (which can actually be reconstructed from available evidence to within a month or two on either end). I hope people will like it when it finally sees the light of day.<ref>[http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Rateliff A Talk With John D. Rateliff] at [http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?montejournal Monte's Journal] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref>}}


==From the Publisher (Second Edition)==
==Revised one-volume edition==
On [[24 March]] [[2011]], Rateliff announced that ''The History of The Hobbit'' will be reprinted, together with an Addendum, as a single-volume book.<ref>[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2011/03/history-of-hobbit-second-edition.html THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition] at [http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/ Sacnoth's Scriptorium] (accessed 18 April 2011)</ref> This "''Revised edition''" was released on [[27 October]]. The Addendum includes:<ref>[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2011/11/history-of-hobbit-second-edition.html THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition] at [http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/ Sacnoth's Scriptorium] (accessed 8 November 2011)</ref>


===Product Description===
* "Timeline of Events"— a timeline of fifteen days following [[Durin's Day]]
In one volume for the first time, this revised and updated examination of how J.R.R.Tolkien came to write his original masterpiece ''The Hobbit'' includes his complete unpublished draft version of the story, together with notes and illustrations by Tolkien himself.
* "Notes on a Parley"— a detailed description of the [[Front Gate]]
* "Responses to Queries"— some proofreader's concerns addressed by J.R.R. Tolkien
* "Personae"— an interesting listing of [[Thorin and Company]]
* "Runic Charts"— details on using dwarven [[runes]]
* "Feanorian Letters"— details on writing in [[Tengwar]], including punctuation and numbers


For the first time in one volume, ''The History of'' The Hobbit presents the complete unpublished text of the original manuscript of J.R.R. Tolkien's ''The Hobbit'', accompanied by John Rateliff's lively and informative account of how the book came to be written and published. As well as recording the numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication, it examines – chapter-by-chapter – why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of Middle-earth.
==Publication history and gallery==
;First edition
{{Gallery
|width=125
|height=125
|lines=2
|File:The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins.jpg|2007 hardcover vol.1
|File:Return to Bag End.jpg|2007 hardcover vol.2
|File:The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins pb.jpeg|2008 paperback vol.1
|File:Return to Bag End pb.jpeg|2008 paperback vol.2
}}
* [[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2007]]), pp. 480. ISBN 0007235550
* [[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2007]]), pp. 480. ISBN 0007250665
* [[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[2008]]), ISBN 0007266464
* [[HarperCollins]] paperback ([[2008]]), ISBN 0007266472


''The Hobbit'' was first published on 21 September 1937. Like its successor, ''The Lord of the Rings'', it is a story that "grew in the telling", and many characters and story threads in the published text are completely different from what Tolkien first wrote to read aloud to his young sons as part of their "fireside reads".
;Revised one-volume edition
 
{{Gallery
As well as reproducing the original version of one of literature's most famous stories, both on its own merits and as the foundation for ''The Lord of the Rings'', this new book includes many little-known illustrations and previously unpublished maps for ''The Hobbit'' by Tolkien himself. Also featured are extensive annotations and commentaries on the date of composition, how Tolkien's professional and early mythological writings influenced the story, the imaginary geography he created, and how Tolkien came to revise the book years after publication to accommodate events in ''The Lord of the Rings''.
|width=125
 
|height=125
Like Christopher Tolkien's ''The History of'' The Lord of the Rings before it, this is a thoughtful yet exhaustive examination of one of the most treasured stories in English literature. Long overdue for a classic book now celebrating 75 years in print, this companion edition offers fascinating new insights for those who have grown up with this enchanting tale, and will delight those who are about to enter Bilbo's round door for the first time.
|lines=2
 
|File:The History of The Hobbit One Volume.jpeg|2011 hardcover
===About the Author===
|File:The History of The Hobbit One Volume New.jpeg|2023 hardcover
John D. Rateliff moved to Wisconsin in 1981 in order to work with the Tolkien manuscripts at Marquette University. He has been active in Tolkien scholarship for many years, delivering papers on Tolkien and the Inklings. While at Marquette, he assisted in the collation of their holdings with those Christopher Tolkien was editing for his History of Middle-earth series. A professional editor, he lives in the Seattle area with his wife and three cats, only one of whom is named after a Tolkien character.
|File:The History of The Hobbit One Volume Deluxe.jpeg|2023 hardcover deluxe edition
}}
* [[HarperCollins]] hardcover ([[2011]]), pp. 960. ISBN 0007440820
** 2011 hardcover edition, 4th impression ([[2023]])
* [[HarperCollins]] hardcover with slipcase ([[2023]]), ISBN 0008601402


==See also==
==See also==
 
* ''[[The Annotated Hobbit]]''
*''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''
* ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''
*[[The History of The Lord of the Rings|''The History of'' The Lord of the Rings]]
* ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Rateliff A Talk with John D. Rateliff]
* [http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/history_of_the_hobbit.php Interview with John D. Rateliff]
* [http://www.sacnothscriptorium.com/works/errata.html Official Errata of ''The History of the Hobbit'']
* [http://www.sacnothscriptorium.com/works/errata.html Official Errata of ''The History of the Hobbit'']
* [https://muse.jhu.edu/article/240222 Review of the book] by [[Tom Shippey]] in [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 5|''Tolkien Studies'' 5]]
* [http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/history_of_the_hobbit.php Exploring the Origins of 'The Hobbit' with John D. Rateliff] on TolkienLibrary.com


{{references}}
{{references}}
 
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[[Category:Books by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
[[Category:Publications by title|History of The Hobbit]]
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[[Category:Posthumous publications]]
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Latest revision as of 10:00, 5 March 2024

The History of The Hobbit
The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins.jpg
AuthorJ.R.R. Tolkien
EditorJohn D. Rateliff
IllustratorJ.R.R. Tolkien
PublisherHarperCollins (UK)
Houghton Mifflin (US)
Releasedvol.1: 1 May 2007
vol.2: 18 June 2007
FormatHardcover
Pages480 (each volume)
ISBNs0007235550
0007250665

The History of The Hobbit is a two-volume study of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, published in 2007.

It contains Tolkien's unpublished drafts of the novel, with commentary by John D. Rateliff. It also details Tolkien's various revisions to The Hobbit, including abandoned revisions for the unpublished third edition of the work, intended for 1960, as well as previously unpublished original maps and illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself.

An abbreviated version was published by HarperCollins in 2015 as A Brief History of The Hobbit. This version retains Tolkien's text and the textual notes provided by Rateliff but omits his essays on various aspects of the texts.

First edition[edit | edit source]

The first edition of The History of The Hobbit was released in two volumes:

  1. Part One: Mr. Baggins
  2. Part Two: Return to Bag-End

First in May and June of 2007 in the U.K. by HarperCollins, then in September in the U.S. by Houghton Mifflin, which also released it as a boxed set in October. The Houghton Mifflin boxed set also includes a new edition of The Hobbit with a short introduction by Christopher Tolkien, a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien's own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare "Mirkwood" piece.[1]

In an interview conducted before the publication, Rateliff described the undertaking in the following way:

The big project, which I've been working on for years and will finally be sending to the publisher near the end of this year, is a book called The History of The Hobbit. It's rather along the lines of Christopher Tolkien's editions that make up the History of Middle-Earth series (which I highly recommend if you haven't read them): an edition of the original manuscript of The Hobbit with extensive commentary on how Mr. Baggins' story fits into Tolkien's legendarium. It's a big book filled with the entire text of Tolkien's first draft, along with short essays about everything from rings of invisibility or Tolkien's spiders to a detailed account of just when Tolkien wrote the book (which can actually be reconstructed from available evidence to within a month or two on either end). I hope people will like it when it finally sees the light of day.[2]

Revised one-volume edition[edit | edit source]

On 24 March 2011, Rateliff announced that The History of The Hobbit will be reprinted, together with an Addendum, as a single-volume book.[3] This "Revised edition" was released on 27 October. The Addendum includes:[4]

  • "Timeline of Events"— a timeline of fifteen days following Durin's Day
  • "Notes on a Parley"— a detailed description of the Front Gate
  • "Responses to Queries"— some proofreader's concerns addressed by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • "Personae"— an interesting listing of Thorin and Company
  • "Runic Charts"— details on using dwarven runes
  • "Feanorian Letters"— details on writing in Tengwar, including punctuation and numbers

Publication history and gallery[edit | edit source]

First edition
2007 hardcover vol.1  
2007 hardcover vol.2  
2008 paperback vol.1  
2008 paperback vol.2  
Revised one-volume edition
2011 hardcover  
2023 hardcover  
2023 hardcover deluxe edition  

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ The History of the Hobbit Book Information at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (accessed 18 April 2011)
  2. ↑ A Talk With John D. Rateliff at Monte's Journal (accessed 18 April 2011)
  3. ↑ THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition at Sacnoth's Scriptorium (accessed 18 April 2011)
  4. ↑ THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition at Sacnoth's Scriptorium (accessed 8 November 2011)
A J.R.R. Tolkien book guide
Books by or mainly by Tolkien
On Arda Authored by
J.R.R. Tolkien 		The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
(i.The Fellowship of the Ring · ii.The Two Towers · iii.The Return of the King) ·
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil · The Road Goes Ever On · Bilbo's Last Song
Edited by Christopher Tolkien The Silmarillion · Unfinished Tales · The History of Middle-earth series
(i.The Book of Lost Tales: Part One · ii.The Book of Lost Tales: Part Two · iii.The Lays of Beleriand · iv.The Shaping of Middle-earth · v.The Lost Road and Other Writings · vi.The Return of the Shadow · vii.The Treason of Isengard · viii.The War of the Ring · ix.Sauron Defeated · x.Morgoth's Ring · xi.The War of the Jewels · xii.The Peoples of Middle-earth · Index) ·
The Children of Húrin · Beren and Lúthien · The Fall of Gondolin
Edited by others The Annotated Hobbit · The History of The Hobbit · The Nature of Middle-earth ·
The Fall of Númenor · The Maps of Middle-earth
Not on Arda Short stories
and poems 		Leaf by Niggle · Farmer Giles of Ham · Smith of Wootton Major · Letters from Father Christmas ·
Mr. Bliss · Roverandom · Tree and Leaf (compilation) · Tales from the Perilous Realm (compilation)
Fictional works The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún · The Fall of Arthur · The Story of Kullervo · The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
Translations and academic works Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo · Finn and Hengest ·
The Monsters and the Critics, and Other Essays · Beowulf and the Critics · Tolkien On Fairy-stories ·
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary · A Secret Vice · The Battle of Maldon
Collected letters and poems The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien · The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien
Edited old texts A Middle English Vocabulary · Sir Gawain and the Green Knight · Ancrene Wisse · The Old English Exodus
Books by other authors
Biographies J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography · The Inklings · Tolkien and the Great War
Reference works The Complete Guide to Middle-earth · The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
Scholarly studies The Road to Middle-earth · The Keys of Middle-earth · The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion ·
The Ring of Words · A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien · Tolkien's Lost Chaucer ·
Tolkien's Library · Tolkien on Chaucer, 1913-1959
Scholarly journals Tolkien Studies · (The Chronology)
Other works by Tolkien
Linguistic journals Vinyar Tengwar various issues · Parma Eldalamberon issue 11-22
Collections of artwork
and manuscripts 		Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien · J.R.R. Tolkien: Life and Legend · J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ·
The Art of The Hobbit · The Art of The Lord of the Rings · Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth ·
Tolkien: Treasures · J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript
This list is only a selection of works, for a fuller bibliography of Tolkien see here or here. See also a timeline and an index.
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