Date of Reading: 08/09/2007
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Publisher: Harper Collins
Place: London
Year: 1999
The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarfs, in search of dragon-guarded gold. The leader is Thorin, the last king's son but as the members constitute the number thirteen, they ask Gandalf the wizard to suggest one more person. His choice is Bilbo Baggins of the Bag End. Young Bilbo is of course reluctant to the idea of adventure, but who can resist Gandalf?
The gold which was originally stolen from the dwarfs, is on the safeguard of the dragon, Smug. If they can come out of it successfully, Bilbo is promised the fourteenth share of the gold. During the journey he even surprises himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarfs, elves and giant spiders, conversations with Smug the dragon, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of the Five armies are some of the adventures that befall Bilbo. But there are lighter moments as well: good fellowship, welcome meals, laughter and song.
At last the dragon gets killed by a man named Bard but Thorin is adamant; he won't give the gold to men of the Lake. The attack of the goblins soon unites them all, though Thorin, Fili and Kili gets killed. It is during this journey that Bilbo gets the ring from Gollum which turns out to be the central element of the sequel Lord of the Rings. He is also gifted with the Sting and the Mail.
The fourteenth share proves too big to be transported to Shire and so Bilbo declines. On the return journey he is blessed with the gold of the trolls which is enough to make him rich. This was lucky as his too much caring relatives has grabbed his possessions thinking him well out of the picture.
It is a complete and marvellous tale in itself, but it also forms a prelude to 'The Lord of the Rings'. Not as good as the famous sequel, but worth reading though.
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