Happy Birthday, Hobbit! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 09-21-2007, 07:35 AM

70 years ago today, The Hobbit was published. What began with "In a hole in the ground..." has become a worldwide phenomenon. It was not the first written of Tolkien's works, yet it paved the way for his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Without the Hobbits, that could not have been what it became. More than that, The Hobbit itself is a worthy work to read and discuss.

Perhaps the best way to celebrate this occasion for for us to share our personal experiences with "There and Back Again". When did you read it? What did it mean to you then? And how has that changed - what does it mean to you now?

Bêthberry · 09-21-2007, 08:48 AM

To this day it makes me sad that no amusement park has ever devised a barrel ride as exciting as the one Bilbo took.

It has also become a powerful justification for the fine art of doodling in the margins.

Sir Kohran · 09-21-2007, 10:11 AM

What a wonderful book

Happy anniversary. This book started it off and led to everything we have today.

davem · 09-22-2007, 05:18 PM

From the Tolkien Library site Allen & Unwin's Spring & Summer 1937 catalogues, announcing the publication of The Hobbit.

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000432.htm

http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000433.htm

Bêthberry · 09-23-2007, 07:04 AM

A lovely find, davem, although I must say the prize is a bit steep for a catalogue. Still, fascinating to see the company TH kept back then.

Also fascinating is the description of TH. One wonders if Tolkien himself had a hand in it?

just a brief snatch: The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing and the mountains were full of danger.

09-21-2007, 07:35 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Happy Birthday, Hobbit! 70 years ago today, The Hobbit was published. What began with "In a hole in the ground..." has become a worldwide phenomenon. It was not the first written of Tolkien's works, yet it paved the way for his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. Without the Hobbits, that could not have been what it became. More than that, The Hobbit itself is a worthy work to read and discuss. Perhaps the best way to celebrate this occasion for for us to share our personal experiences with "There and Back Again". When did you read it? What did it mean to you then? And how has that changed - what does it mean to you now? __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

09-21-2007, 08:48 AM	#2
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	Holey ground, Thuringwethil! To this day it makes me sad that no amusement park has ever devised a barrel ride as exciting as the one Bilbo took. It has also become a powerful justification for the fine art of doodling in the margins. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

09-21-2007, 10:11 AM	#3
Sir Kohran Wight Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: England, UK Posts: 178	What a wonderful book Happy anniversary. This book started it off and led to everything we have today. __________________ 'Dangerous!' cried Gandalf. 'And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord.'

09-22-2007, 05:18 PM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	From the Tolkien Library site Allen & Unwin's Spring & Summer 1937 catalogues, announcing the publication of The Hobbit. http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000432.htm http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/dmiller/000433.htm __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

09-23-2007, 07:04 AM	#5
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,989	A lovely find, davem, although I must say the prize is a bit steep for a catalogue. Still, fascinating to see the company TH kept back then. Also fascinating is the description of TH. One wonders if Tolkien himself had a hand in it? just a brief snatch: The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing and the mountains were full of danger. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.