The History of The Hobbit: Difference between revisions
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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=[[Image:The History of The Hobbit - Mr. Baggins.jpg|225px]]| | ||
author=[[John Rateliff]]| | author=[[John D. Rateliff]]| | ||
isbn= | isbn=| | ||
publisher= | publisher=[[HarperCollins]]; [[Houghton Mifflin]]| | ||
date=May 2007| | date=May 2007 (1st ed.)| | ||
format=Hardcover| | format=Hardcover| | ||
pages= | pages=| | ||
amazon= | amazon=| | ||
amazonprice= | amazonprice= | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The History of The Hobbit''' | '''''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the evolution of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Hobbit]]'' through the various extant manuscripts and drafts (formerly unpublished).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]]''. | ||
{{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== | ||
[[Image:Return to Bag End.png|thumb|left|Cover of Vol. II, ''Return to Bag End'']] | |||
The first edition of ''The History of'' The Hobbit was released in two parts, '''''Mr. Baggins''''' (vol. I) and '''''Return to Bag End''''' (vol. II) in May and June of 2007 by HarperCollins, and a boxed set in the U.S. in September by Houghton Mifflin. Each volume contains 480 pages. 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> | |||
== | ==Second Edition== | ||
== | 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> | ||
==From the Publisher (Second Edition)== | |||
===Product Description=== | |||
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. | |||
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. | |||
''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". | |||
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''. | |||
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. | |||
===About the Author=== | |||
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. | |||
==See also== | |||
*''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'' | |||
*[[The History of The Lord of the Rings|''The History of'' The Lord of the Rings]] | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 48: | ||
* [http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/history_of_the_hobbit.php Interview 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''] | ||
{{references}} | |||
[[Category:Scholarly books|History of The Hobbit]] | [[Category:Scholarly books|History of The Hobbit]] | ||
Revision as of 10:04, 18 April 2011
| The History of The Hobbit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Author | John D. Rateliff |
| Publisher | HarperCollins; Houghton Mifflin |
| Released | May 2007 (1st ed.) |
| Format | Hardcover |
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 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[1]
First Edition
The first edition of The History of The Hobbit was released in two parts, Mr. Baggins (vol. I) and Return to Bag End (vol. II) in May and June of 2007 by HarperCollins, and a boxed set in the U.S. in September by Houghton Mifflin. Each volume contains 480 pages. 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.[2]
Second Edition
On 24 March 2011, Rateliff announced that HarperCollins is reprinting, together with an Addendum, The History of The Hobbit as a single-volume book.[3] This "Revised Updated edition" is expected to be released 27 October 2011.[4]
From the Publisher (Second Edition)
Product Description
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
About the Author
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.
See also
External links
- A Talk with John D. Rateliff
- Interview with John D. Rateliff
- Official Errata of The History of the Hobbit
References
- ↑ A Talk With John D. Rateliff at Monte's Journal (accessed 18 April 2011)
- ↑ The History of the Hobbit Book Information at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (accessed 18 April 2011)
- ↑ THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, second edition at Sacnoth's Scriptorium (accessed 18 April 2011)
- ↑ The History of the Hobbit: One Volume Edition at Amazon.co.uk (accessed 18 April 2011)
