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Summary: This is the best Hobbit edition
Review: I would even give this edition to first-time readers, who will no doubt have many questions that Anderson attempts to answer. All the various illustrations will no doubt interest younger readers as well.Anderson does perpetuate a couple of myths (such as the notion that Tolkien's Elves had pointed ears) but his research is generally regarded as some of the best in the world and that is well-deserved praise. The book includes all the changes Tolkien ever made to The Hobbit in an appendix which is non-intrusive. There is also an extensive bibliography for further reading. But maybe the best reason to buy the book (if/when it is printed again) is its size. It's a nice, big cuddly book that is easy for an adult to hold, especially if you're reading to a child in your lap or beside you. The book also includes a biographical section on Tolkien that is interesting though short.
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Summary: Great!! For Tolkein fans!
Review: I'd like to get this straight right off the bat.....this 'Annotated' version of the Hobbit is for readers who are already hooked on Tolkein. First time readers would be better served to get one of the non-annotated ones and familiarze themselves with Tolkeins world. Oh! And read 'The Lord of the Rings' as well before you attempt reading 'The annotated Hobbit'.
I have read a lot of annotated books over the years and I have to say that this one is one of the most seamlessly done. Understandably, as you try to read the comments you lose some of the continuity of the text, but they are usually so informative that you gain more than you lose by reading them. Some of the notes are written for the more scholarly inclined, some are just plain amusing.
A great bonus is the collection of illustrations from all over the world....giving an insight as to how different cultures see the same objects. That was the beauty of the old books...you had to imagine the scenes. That beauty is forever sullied now as everyone is going to see Tolkein's characters as they appear in the (very bad) movie adaptations of the 'Lord of the Rings'.
All in all, if you already have a version of the 'Hobbit', buy this book. It is one of those books that will reward repeated readings.
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Summary: Really, the best way to read The Hobbit
Review: Okay, so I say that this is the best way to read The Hobbit. And I am dead serious. I know that annotated books can be difficult to navigate, filled with useless, pointless, or just plain boring information, and can be grossly oversized. That is not the case here. So - here's the scoop. The original story is very nicely presented, with all original illustrations in color when possible, and in black and white elsewhere. The type is nice and clear, very easy to read. (Many cheaper editions are also rather hard on the eyes. Check the print before you buy, folks!) The illustrations are printed very clearly, and with very good notes on what they are. And then the annotations - useful, engaging, and very well done. You will WANT to read these. We discover how the book was written, and what was changed between editions. (There were many changes made so that The Hobbit would conform more easily to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.) There are fascinating tidbits about Tolkien's life and the experiences that made their way into the story. The forward tells about the writing of the novel, and the appedices give additional details about the text. There are also many illustrations from other editions of the book. These are varied, from thought-provoking to not-provoking. And the book is not too big. Some editions are simply too big to be read, but this book is reasonably sized so that you can actually READ IT! In fact, I have not read any other edition of The Hobbit for years, since the original annotated version came out. The new edition is very much worthwhile. Enjoy!
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Summary: Roots and Sources of a Beloved Tale
Review: The continued popularity of "The Hobbit" seems well deserved. Easier to read than "The Lord of the Rings", less contrived in plot and language and without the overwhelming sense of doom that hangs over the latter, it appeals on a more immediate level. The pernicious influence of the Ring is not yet apparent, and everyone - including the dragon - has some redeeming features. Tolkien was uncomfortable when LOTR acquired cult status and distanced himself from some of the more extreme interpretations. "The Hobbit" is less prone to such abuse.
There is something endearingly familiar about the reluctant hero: a character who has no appetite for adventure, just wants to be left in peace, eat and drink well and often, smoke his pipe and stay out of the way of trouble; and yet is drawn, through the agency of Gandalf, into a perilous treasure hunt. Scorned at first by the dwarves who consider him an encumbrance, he gains respect by coming up with some clever schemes and is finally acknowledged as their resourceful leader. Naturally, he is changed by the experience.
The annotations range from the pedantic (every missing comma or misplaced apostrophe is duly noted) to the eschatological (where do dwarves go after death?). In between, we learn a lot about Tolkien's sources in Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon mythology, and his linguistic research boggles the mind.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this edition is the chance to compare illustrations from various foreign translations: they show how people from different cultures imagined dwarves, trolls, goblins, elves and wizards to look. Excerpts from Tolkien's letters encouraging or repudiating certain interpretations of his work indicate that, for instance, he conceived Gandalf as an "Odinic Wanderer", not a figure of fun as some illustrators represented him. He disliked "disneyfied" versions of his characters. He also mentions that his children "hated it when adults talked down to them", so he tried to keep his narrative on a level both simple and intricate, in a manner that children would find neither boring nor condescending.
Should we be bothered by the discovery that almost all the bad guys are dark-skinned, ill-smelling, ugly, and apt to speak sub-standard English? This type of "stereotyping" goes back a long way, and I suggest that we dispense with political correctness when it comes to folk tales and fairy tales and read them in a spirit of fun. So pull up a chair, throw a log on the fire, and lose yourself in Tolkien's World.
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Summary: A Beautiful Version of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Review: This beautiful version of Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the best versions you can get of this book. The annotations and commentary of information make this a must for Tolien fans. The artwork of some artists and Tolkien himself is beautiful. I giive it a Two Thumbs up.
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Summary: What a Gorgeous Book!
Review: This book is a must have for Tolkien lovers (do I dare use the work Geek!). Beautiful pictures and drawing. Loads of info. Answers all your questions and adds tons to your trivia as well as concrete knowledge of the Hobbit and Tolkien.
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Summary: A worthwile addition to any Tolkien fan's library
Review: This is an excellent, informative and well researched work. There are details on Tolkien's life and many of the sources and inspirations for sections of the book. The best part for me was finding out what Bilbo's taunts to the spiders actually meant. It's costly but well worth every cent.
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Summary: BeSt The Hobbit!
Review: This is the best The Hobbit book I could find. I t contains a lot of great extra information and drawings, plus the book.
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Summary: Little Character, Big Story. A review of "The Hobbit"
Review: This is the second time that I have ventured into the mystical and mysterious adventure that is The Hobbit. Professor Tolkien's writing is nothing short of enchanting and informational. His incredible skill to create new languages, peoples, and settings is obvious as you follow little Bilbo Baggins on this curious adventure within the realm of Middle-Earth. This is one of the best fantasy novels that I have had the pleasure to read. Tolkien's follow-up trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, is just as captivating, and I would recommend it as well. Even though the plot twists and turns every which way, the basis of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy is none other than the age-old battle of all that is good and evil. I would highly recommend these works of J.R.R. Tolkien to anyone who enjoys getting lost in a good adventure.
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Summary: Excellent Annotations
Review: This newly published, annotated version of THE HOBBIT is excellent for fans of the book. It may be TMI ("too much information") for the first-time reader. The text of THE HOBBIT settles in the center of the book while Doug Anderson's notations appear in the outer margins. At times it's a bit busy - but there's always fascinating reading! Tolkien fans are sure to get excited over this one. Doug Anderson includes lots of sources in his notes. He quotes Tolkien's own letters, other fairy tales and legends that may have inspired Tolkien, as well as previous versions of the section he's noting. The Gollum section ("Riddles in the Dark") is interesting. Tolkien did some tinkering with the original Gollum story as its follow-up (LORD OF THE RINGS) was taking shape. Seems that George Lucas is not the only person who's revised previously released work! Tolkien was his predecessor. Also interesting are the many black and white illustrations that Anderson includes, many from foreign editions of THE HOBBIT. Some of the art is hilarious, as it does not resemble Tolkien's characters at all! There is a nice color section of illustrations in the center of the book. THE ANNOTATED HOBBIT is a handsome, interesting book to own if you're a fan of Bilbo and his adventures with the dwarves (or dwarfs? That's covered in the book as well!)
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