J.R.R. Tolkien’s Little-Known Original Drawings for the First Edition of “The Hobbit” By Maria Popova
"...People have celebrated Tolkien as a writer for years — you haven’t been able to get away from him since all the books of the century polls. But The Lord of the Rings has always been the focus since it was published in 1954 — it’s a much more grown-up, significant book. It has overshadowed The Hobbit as a more old-fashioned, children’s book, which has become known in the context of The Lord of the Rings. The anniversary allows us to move the spotlight back on to the book which started it all.
A rare piece of cross-disciplinary creativity from the mind of one of modern history’s greatest creators, The Art of the Hobbit is equal parts literary treasure and treat of art, exploring the notion of the author as designer — a particularly timely concept in the age of self-publishing and disciplinary cross-pollination in the making of books..."
@shekinahcancook imo, Tolkien’s dust-jacket design for The Hobbit is the best piece of artwork he ever produced, although there are a few others that run it close.
Und als die Zähne geputzt, das Nachthemd angezogen und der Nachttrunk getrunken war, setzte die Gemeinschaft von Zwergen, einem Hobbit und einem Zauberer ihre Reise fort. Über schlechte Pfade und unbekannte Gegenden gelangten sie schlussendlich nach Bruchtal zu Elrond. Dort ruhten sie sich zwei Wochen bei den Elben aus und zogen schweren Herzens weiter gen Osten.
Reading the Hobbit with my son I am reminded how much this book is like a #dnd adventure. Weird side treks into directions you didn't want to end up in, random encounters that spiral into full session adventures, oh and people failing their rolls to hilarious effects.
Anyway, my games need more riddle contests and intelligent spider monsters.
@Thebratdragon people always give the Lord of the Rings all the credit, but that one is an epic adventure. The Hobbit is a treasure hunt with low stats heroes.
I find the way Tolkien describes Bilbo's mother fascinating. His father is one of those staid gentlemen. But every time I read how exactly Gandalf talks about her I get more convinced that she was one of the Hobbits Gandalf convinced to join him on an adventure.
So was her father most likely.
In my headcanon Belladonna was a tough as nails treasure hunter, before coming back home and marrying the prettiest boy toy she could find.
@kyonshi in fact Gandalf probably had a breeding program to make him better and better burglars, spies & assassins for generations. The Bene Gesserit had nothing on this guy! Only at Bilbo’s level the knowledge of their destiny had disappeared, still, the big G managed to enroll his newest creation for what happened to be the most consequential mission of the Age…
Also why did Bilbo adopt Frodo ? Gandalf knew the boy had the genes and suggested it discreetly
@apyth nah, no knowledge. But it wouldn't surprise me if he showed up in the Shire every once in a while and just happened to meet the child of a former compatriot with the sparkle in their eyes. All the way back to Bullroarer Took and before.
Correct. To be more specific, in Tolkien lore, Bilbo (and later Frodo adding to it, organizing it, and editing it) wrote the “Red Book of Westmarch” which was later translated by the narrator of the books into the Hobbit and Lordnof the Rings. Many (most?) Tolkien fans prefer to frame things this way when discussing the stories, and for good reason— that’s how Tolkien himself viewed the stories. As a translation of something in another language. He was a linguist, after all.
“The version of the Hobbit that Bucky read in 1937 probably isn’t the same version of the book that you read.”
I had to web search this because I don’t know who ‘Bucky’ is. My worlds do not mix. I have a vague understanding that it is someone in Marvel comics. 🤷♂️
Sensacional ouvir Tolkien narrando sua própria obra. Andy Serkis fez o Gollum igualzinho ao Tolkien! Tive que rir. Fabuloso! #tolkien#lordoftherings#hobbit