The Red Book Of Westmarch

Alright, for those of you who've read the prologue, this has been really bothering me. Bilbo contributed to the red book correct? A lot if I remember correctly. And "There and back again" is part of the red book. Frodo also contributed. But this quote has been really bothering me, it's straight from the prologue.

"[The Red book of westmarch is the] most important source for the history of the war of the ring was so called because it was long preserved at Undertowers, the home of fairbairns, wardens of the westmarch. It was in origin Bilbo's private diary, which he took with him to rivendell. Frodo brought it back to the shire, together with many loose leaves of notes. And durring S.R. 1420- I he nearly filled it's pages with his account of the war. But annexed it and preserved with it, probably in a single red case, were the three large volumes, bound in red leather, that bilbo gave him as a parting gift."

So... If frodo took Bilbo's diary... and made the Red Book from that... what did bilbo give frodo as a parting gift? I'm so confused.

[Elianna]

Way I read it, Bilbo gave the Red Book to Frodo. I mean, Frodo took the diary at the End of the WR. Maybe Bilbo just officially gave Frodo the Red Book when he left.

[Firefoot]

In the evening they went to say good-bye to Bilbo. "Well, if you must go you must," he said. "I am sorry. I shall miss you. It is nice just to know that you are about the place But I am getting very sleepy." Then he gave Frodo his mithril-coat and Sting, forgetting that he had already done so; and he gave him also three books of lore that he had made at various times, written in his spidery hand, and labelled on their red backs: Translations from the Elvish, by B.B.

A little bit later Bilbo gives him his diary, or the Red Book. These other volumes that Bilbo gave him are the accounts of the First Age that Bilbo put together in Rivendell. They are "translated" to the Silmarillion in the same way that the Red Book is "translated" into the Hobbit and LotR.

Hope this helps!

It's starting to yes. Thank so much.

So are you saying that the "Diary" and "The Red Book" are the same thing? That's what I was starting to think, the prolouge is written so poorly....

[Boromir88]

I wouldn't say it's written badly you just got to look at this one small phrase...

It (The Red book) was in origin Bilbo's private diary,

So by saying "in origin" mean "It" (the red book) was originally Bilbo's diary of his accounts, then became known as the "Red Book." Think of it as Tolkien's letters, and early drafts, then out of those jumbled masses of notes, rewritings, changes, you come up with LOTR, Sil...etc.

Yea, but if frodo "took" The book, then It crosses it's self by then saying. Frodo added to it but left the 3 volumes untouched which bilbo gave him...