The Hobbit is 87 years old today - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · Yesterday, 09:42 PM

The years are creeping up on The Hobbit. It was published September 21, 1937, at the tail end of a decade that saw the worst economic depression in the Western world. Yet its ethos was hardly that of doom, gloom, and depression. It was eagerly received and well regarded.Words such as "marvellous" and "freshly original" found their way into reviews, as well as the claim that it was destined to be a classic of children's literature. Now, it is seen as more than simply a children's book but as a narrative which shaped a culture in surprising ways.

What was the context in which you first read The Hobbit and did that context influence your reading of the book? Now that you are older, and possibly wiser, and living through the tumultuous and unstable times of the 21st century, does that world context influence how you read Bilbo's story now? Instead of being young and fresh, has it gone gracefully into an old age of seniority?

Morthoron · Today, 12:47 PM

Actually, I started somewhat late, considering the era. I was a young teen, it was 1973, and I happened to see Tolkien's obituary in the Detroit Free Press. The obit was a full page with a photo of Tolkien surrounded by illustrations of Hobbits, Dwarves and other various characters of Middle-earth.

I had a natural affinity for mythology as a youth (Greek, Norse, the Mabinogion, etc.), and so I was intrigued. I borrowed The Hobbit from the school library, ran through it in a day and was immediately hooked. Soon I completed The Lord of the Rings and I was well on my way down the endless paths of Middle-earth. I remember waiting with anticipation the publishing of The Silmarillion in 1977 and I purchased a copy upon its release in the States. I still have that hardbound copy.

Is it still fresh? Truth be told, inundated by the various Jackson films I didn't read The Hobbit and LotR for many years thereafter (I needed to eliminate the faces of the actors from the characters they portrayed), and stuck with reading and re-reading the various HoME books, The Letters and other publications from C. Tolkien. I suppose a serious re-read is in order now that I am in my 60s and the glamour of Hollywood has been washed clean -- although the sense of wonder may never return fully from the first time I was enthralled by the series.

Yesterday, 09:42 PM	#1
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,994	The Hobbit is 87 years old today The years are creeping up on The Hobbit. It was published September 21, 1937, at the tail end of a decade that saw the worst economic depression in the Western world. Yet its ethos was hardly that of doom, gloom, and depression. It was eagerly received and well regarded.Words such as "marvellous" and "freshly original" found their way into reviews, as well as the claim that it was destined to be a classic of children's literature. Now, it is seen as more than simply a children's book but as a narrative which shaped a culture in surprising ways. What was the context in which you first read The Hobbit and did that context influence your reading of the book? Now that you are older, and possibly wiser, and living through the tumultuous and unstable times of the 21st century, does that world context influence how you read Bilbo's story now? Instead of being young and fresh, has it gone gracefully into an old age of seniority? __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

Today, 12:47 PM	#2
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,508	Actually, I started somewhat late, considering the era. I was a young teen, it was 1973, and I happened to see Tolkien's obituary in the Detroit Free Press. The obit was a full page with a photo of Tolkien surrounded by illustrations of Hobbits, Dwarves and other various characters of Middle-earth. I had a natural affinity for mythology as a youth (Greek, Norse, the Mabinogion, etc.), and so I was intrigued. I borrowed The Hobbit from the school library, ran through it in a day and was immediately hooked. Soon I completed The Lord of the Rings and I was well on my way down the endless paths of Middle-earth. I remember waiting with anticipation the publishing of The Silmarillion in 1977 and I purchased a copy upon its release in the States. I still have that hardbound copy. Is it still fresh? Truth be told, inundated by the various Jackson films I didn't read The Hobbit and LotR for many years thereafter (I needed to eliminate the faces of the actors from the characters they portrayed), and stuck with reading and re-reading the various HoME books, The Letters and other publications from C. Tolkien. I suppose a serious re-read is in order now that I am in my 60s and the glamour of Hollywood has been washed clean -- although the sense of wonder may never return fully from the first time I was enthralled by the series. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.