Paperback, 342 pages
Italiano language
Published Dec. 31, 1988 by Gli Adelphi.
"Lo hobbit" è il libro con cui Tolkien ha presentato per la prima volta, nel 1937, il foltissimo mondo mitologico del Signore degli Anelli, che ormai milioni di persone di ogni età, sparse ovunque, conoscono in tutti i suoi minuti particolari. Tra i protagonisti di tale mondo sono gli hobbit, minuscoli esseri "dolci come il miele e resistenti come le radici di alberi secolari", timidi, capaci di "sparire veloci e silenziosi al sopraggiungere di persone indesiderate", con un'arte che sembra magica ma è "unicamente dovuta a un'abilità professionale che l'eredità, la pratica e un'amicizia molto intima con la terra hanno reso inimitabile da parte di razze più grandi e goffe" quali gli uomini. Se non praticano la magia, gli Hobbit finiscono però sempre in mezzo a feroci vicende magiche, come capita appunto a Bilbo Baggins, eroe quasi a dispetto di questa storia, che il grande "mago bianco" Gandalf coinvolgerà in …
"Lo hobbit" è il libro con cui Tolkien ha presentato per la prima volta, nel 1937, il foltissimo mondo mitologico del Signore degli Anelli, che ormai milioni di persone di ogni età, sparse ovunque, conoscono in tutti i suoi minuti particolari. Tra i protagonisti di tale mondo sono gli hobbit, minuscoli esseri "dolci come il miele e resistenti come le radici di alberi secolari", timidi, capaci di "sparire veloci e silenziosi al sopraggiungere di persone indesiderate", con un'arte che sembra magica ma è "unicamente dovuta a un'abilità professionale che l'eredità, la pratica e un'amicizia molto intima con la terra hanno reso inimitabile da parte di razze più grandi e goffe" quali gli uomini. Se non praticano la magia, gli Hobbit finiscono però sempre in mezzo a feroci vicende magiche, come capita appunto a Bilbo Baggins, eroe quasi a dispetto di questa storia, che il grande "mago bianco" Gandalf coinvolgerà in un'impresa apparentemente disperata: la riconquista del tesoro custodito dal drago Smog. Bilbo incontrerà così ogni sorta di avventure, assieme ai tredici nani suoi compagni e a Gandalf, che appare e scompare, lasciando cadere come per caso le parole degli insegnamenti decisivi. E il ritrovamento, apparentemente casuale, di un anello magico, è il germe della grande saga che Tolkien proseguirà nei tre libri del "Signore degli Anelli" illuminando nel suo durissimo senso un tema segreto de "Lo hobbit": cosa fare dell'Anello del Potere?
Absolut gar nicht mein Genre und ich musste mich zwischendurch echt quälen weiterzulesen. Hat mir schlussendlich aber doch gefallen und der Nachwuchs ist jetzt schon an der Geschichte interessiert, die ich mit der Karte im Buch immer wieder nacherzählen soll. Vielleicht war das also der erste von vielen Durchläufen?
Y'all heard about this book? It's great minus maybe the political ending... I recommend the audio book read by Andy Serkis, and I recommend reading together with a kid.
It's been a couple of decades since I last read The Hobbit, but the story still holds up. This new audiobook edition is read by Andy Serkis (the actor who voiced and played Gollum, among many others). His voice acting is spectacular and really adds to the book. Highly recommended!
I read it years ago (70's) and I spent many of hours reading the trilogy in high school when I should have been doing other things. I do not regret it though.
When I was a kid, it was hard to read, but interesting at the same time. I think, it's a good book to help children learn that patience reaps rewards. Of a cool story in this particular case.
While I already knew the gist of what happens from the movie, this was still enjoyable. It's a captivating story, and I rather enjoyed the various asides and commentary that comes through more in words than in movie. Also, I'm wondering how much of the movie was the <10 page battle at the end...
A classic. I find new things every time I read it.
The absolute best of all his books. The LoTR may get all the attention, but this is a beautifully written and paced.
I like the book myself, but it was even more enjoyable when I read it with my daughter. Had to buy her a separate copy so she would stop stealing mine!
Towards the end I started ignoring the annotations because I got so wrapped up in the story. For the 19th time. Thereabouts, anyway. I will never stop rereading this book.
(Note: this review is about one of my many numerous re-reads of the book.)
"In a hole in the ground there lived ...", well, you probably know who.
A story that started out scribbled on the back of a piece of paper being marked by J.R.R. Tolkien has grown in the telling and now supports a whole mythology set out in the books "The Silmarillion" and "The Lord of the Rings" as well as a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.
The story of Bilbo Baggins and how he got involved in a quest involving dwarves, a Wizard, elves, men, goblins, wargs (wolves) and, of course, a dragon, is set out in this tale that has been read multiple times by me.
The most important event in the book, almost trivial in its treatment (which it was, at the time) was the discovery of a seemingly innocuous magic ring by Bilbo deep …
(Note: this review is about one of my many numerous re-reads of the book.)
"In a hole in the ground there lived ...", well, you probably know who.
A story that started out scribbled on the back of a piece of paper being marked by J.R.R. Tolkien has grown in the telling and now supports a whole mythology set out in the books "The Silmarillion" and "The Lord of the Rings" as well as a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.
The story of Bilbo Baggins and how he got involved in a quest involving dwarves, a Wizard, elves, men, goblins, wargs (wolves) and, of course, a dragon, is set out in this tale that has been read multiple times by me.
The most important event in the book, almost trivial in its treatment (which it was, at the time) was the discovery of a seemingly innocuous magic ring by Bilbo deep in the mountains which was to have an impact well after the telling of this tale.
Light-hearted in tone, the story skips gaily from Bilbo's home at Bag End to Rivendell, from the Misty Mountains to Mirkwood, from the Elven King's halls to its final destination; the Lonely Mountain far to the east. It is there that things turn grim as Bilbo finally performs the tasks he was hired to do; to be a burglar.
A good tale and best considered as a stand-alone tale, rather than a 'prequel' to Tolkien's major work, "The Lord of the Rings".
If you want to know more, also consider reading "The Annotated Hobbit" by Douglas A. Anderson and the two volume "The History of The Hobbit" by John D. Rateliff.
It's hardly worth reviewing The Hobbit - it's been done so many times. But for those who only know it from the movies, prepare for a very different experience. This is more child-friendly but more epic, more philosophical but more realistic.
I mean it’s a classic. How could you hate on it?
A very nostalgic book for me, the one that first got me into reading Fantasy novels long long ago.
I would be great if I could give ratings without saying anything.
