The Hobbit: The Classic Fantasy Novel and Prelude to The Lord of the Rings

The journey through Middle-earth begins here with J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his epic fantasy Lord of the Rings trilogy.

“A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible... All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts.”—The New York Times Book Review

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language—Tolkien's prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved high fantasy novels.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their epic quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

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    Published Sep 18, 2012

    320 pages

    Average rating: 8.42

    925 RATINGS

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    What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

    ✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

    Readers say *The Hobbit* is a classic adventure beloved for its whimsical writing, charming characters, and richly imagined world. Many appreciate its...

    jpubs
    Feb 02, 2025
    6/10 stars
    Listened via audiobook this time around. The last time I read this was about 15 years ago, and I had more fond memories of it at that time.

    This time around, it felt tedious. There were way too many "songs," and I started to get annoyed with Bilbo about halfway through. The narration was decent, and he used different voices for the characters, but after a while, it all started sounding a bit monotone.

    Also, I started thinking about how there are exactly zero female characters in this book. Like they aren't even mentioned in passing. It actually felt kind of weird realizing this.

    Anyway, it doesn't diminish from this amazing story, just how I felt this time around.
    wdkilpackiii
    Mar 05, 2026
    10/10 stars
    I read The Hobbit for the first time when I was 10 and it changed my life. I had always enjoyed fantasy, but could not find books that satisfied, and movies in the '80s did not match up to what is possible today. Then I got my hands on The Hobbit ... and mind blown! The world-building, the complexity, the depth, the culture, the languages, the songs, the maps, the Elves, the Dwarves — let alone the Hobbits! — it quite literally changed my life. I was already a reader, but I became an insatiable reader after this, consuming the Lord of the Rings like I was starving, then moving on to other great fantasy authors, but it all started with Tolkien and The Hobbit. I also started playing Dungeons & Dragons at 10, which was inspired by Tolkien! Not only could I read the books, but I could pretend to Live. In. Worlds. Just. Like. Middle-Earth! Booooooom! (That's the sound of my mind being blown once again.) I have read The Hobbit at least a dozen times now. I wrote my senior thesis about it for AP English in high school. I referenced it heavily in my AP English exam. And, yes, I am now writing fantasy novels. I gave all of my kids The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, aside from spending thousands of hours playing D&D and other RPGs with them. I would heartily encourage any parent to give their children the gift of Tolkien, starting with The Hobbit. There is no higher recommendation that I can make.
    TheCrownJewul
    Feb 28, 2026
    If you love short kings, you'd love this book!
    Claire Flannery
    Feb 21, 2026
    8/10 stars
    Fun adventure book, entertaining
    diamondback
    Feb 05, 2026
    10/10 stars
    A classic! One of my favorites. I read it with great enjoyment. Huzzah! The best. On to LOTR!

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