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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Making Of A Masterpiece,
This review is from: The History of the Hobbit, Part 1: Mr. Baggins (Hardcover)
J.R.R. Tolkien must be among the most heavily analyzed of twentieth century writers. His drafts and redrafts of his Middle earth legendarium, in some cases dating back to his years in service during World War I, have been published as The History of Middle-earth by his son and literary executor Christopher Tolkien. Through their multiple volumes students can trace the evolution of Tolkien's world. Until now, however, we have been unable to trace the story of the work which made Tolkien and Middle-earth well known to the general public. John D. Rateliff, after many years of patient scholarship, has now filled that gap with The History of the Hobbit.
Mr. Baggins is the first of two volumes in The History of the Hobbit, and readers should buy it with its companion Return to Bag End at the same time. The second volume starts with page 469, and there is no Index in Volume I, for example. Mr. Rateliff has identified five phases in the writing of The Hobbit. Mr. Baggins covers the first and most of the second phases. Practically every word Tolkien wrote is printed, with extensive and fascinating notes and short essays by Mr. Rateliff interpolated with Tolkien's text. Colored plates showing some of Tolkien's sketches and maps are included, too. The early versions of The Hobbit are startling, to say the least. Bilbo Baggins walks out of his hobbit hole one morning to meet the wizard Bladorthin, who brings thirteen dwarves led by their chieftain Gandalf to visit him. Bilbo is strongarmed into becoming the dwarves' burglar, charged with recovering an immense treasure from the dragon Pryftan. People who have read the published Hobbit will recognize that the essential story is present, but with many variations and false starts which Tolkien eventually straightened out. The text notes and short essays provided by Rateliff are absolutely fascinating. They include discussions on the nature of elves, the origins of the word bilbo, magic rings from Plato onwards, and the influence the Dr. Dolittle series and the Tolkien children's love for bears had on the construction of The Hobbit. This volume ends with Bilbo and the dwarves' arrival in Laketown. Again, be sure to buy Volume II at the same time as Volume I, because you'll want to keep reading!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing and sumptuous Hobbit history,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The History of the Hobbit, Part 1: Mr. Baggins (Hardcover)
For those who loved their journey from Hobbiton, across Mirkwood, to the Lonely Mountain and back, "The History of The Hobbit," by John Rateliff is a delight - even better than a second Breakfast. You will relive the first pleasure of reading about that most excellent and audacious Mr. Bilbo Baggins in early drafts by Tolkien.
We find that the wizard Galdalf was first named Bladorthin. Thorin was originally named Gandalf, the dwarf. Even Smaug was once Pryftan. Why these names evolved and much much more make "The History of the Hobbit," a great read for mere fans, philologists, as well as certified literary critics of Professor Tolkien. Each chapter-length section of early drafts by Tolkien is enhanced with excellent text notes about these fragments. Following these sections of The Hobbit, Rateliff presents notes on the characters, geography, and types of magic encountered in Middle Earth. Because these commentaries are so engrossing, it is tempting to jump around. If you are a riddle-lover, than jumping to the chapter on Gollum is a must. Rateliff provides sumptuous and intriguing tidbits about riddles written in Old English as well as in Mother Goose. If the background of the Ring tickles your wonderment, then we find sources ranging from Plato's Republic to H.G. Wells' Invisible Man, as well as many other influences. Like the winding path Bilbo takes, under mountains and through the air, readers of "The History of The Hobbit," will find that they will want to visit all the spots that Bilbo did with greater understanding and renewed joy.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book for those who bought this because they love Tolkien,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The History of the Hobbit, Part 1: Mr. Baggins (Hardcover)
I recommend reading the story first then reading it a second time to read the text notes and commentary because it is difficult and distracting to do both at the same time at least for me. I had the same problem with Christopher Tolkien's history of middle earth series.
One of the problems i have here is unsubstantiated claims based on opinion and not fact by the author being influenced by Dunsany. Had this been the case i think Christopher Tolkien would have at least mentioned it in passing in his series of books edited from his fathers manuscripts. As long as you can separate fact from inference in reading this book i think you will enjoy it. I would have preferred Christopher Tolkien's version to be in the history of middle earth series, but since he decided not to do the hobbit this is the second best option. A mistake on his part i believe since John Rateliff's two books on the history of the hobbit illuminate the connections it has to the rest of tolkien's legendarium. Particularly evidenced in connection to the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings. I would have prefered a more in depth dicussion of tolkien's love of the norse sagas and his connection to the Beowulf poet. But i supposed a beowulf gloss can wait the clamored for but not released tolkien translation of beowulf if it ever is released.
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