"Mr. Baggins" - The Hobbit Reinterpreted... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sardy · 05-29-2007, 07:30 AM

"Mr. Baggins", a.k.a. "The History of The Hobbit" is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com. See here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026..._email_title_1

At a hundred dollars and nearly a thousand pages, there's little other information abut the hardcover. No description, no artwork has yet been made available (at least as of my writing this).

From what I gather (and will stand corrected if wrong) this is to be a collection of Tolkien's work from late in his life re-working the Hobbit to bring it more "in tune" with LotR and M-e in general.

I thought I would start a thread for anticipation and discussion of this book...

davem · 05-29-2007, 08:07 AM

Well, volume 1 http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Hobb...0447367&sr=8-1 came out at the beginning of this month over here & I just finished it yesterday. Vol 2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Hobb...0447367&sr=8-2 was supposed to be out next Tuesday, but according to Rateliff's blog he only just completed the Index on Sunday & he's been given a pubilcation date of the 18th of this month.

TI suspect that the edition you link to is the slipcased set of both volumes & the 70th anniversary hardback of TH.

The first volume is interesting (actually the bulk of vols 1&2 is the original manuscript/typescript of TH, but vol 2 will contain the attempted re-write in the style of LotR which Tolkien began in the early sixties).

narfforc · 05-29-2007, 10:19 AM

Hi Davem, I bought Mr Baggins in Stratford about ten days ago. It is well worth reading, as it goes beyond just the history of The Hobbit, I enjoyed the part about the names of the dwarves ie:-Throw-in (Thorin) and also how Tolkien originally had Bilbo killing the dragon, there's lots of little bits of info that adds to our understanding.

His website will be www.JohnDRateliff.homestead.com I believe though there isn't anything on it at the moment.

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-29-2007, 11:30 AM

I ordered the first volume via internet, since that's the least complicated way for me to get English books here, and it arrived last week. I look forward to reading it, though I'm not sure when that will be...

Mithalwen · 05-29-2007, 01:34 PM

I am part way through Mr Baggins and am enjoying it so far - more than I expected since I find the Hobbit hard to read as an adult. I didn't pay that much for it since I got it discounted with the Children of Hurin. Gandalf being Bladorthin is nowhere near as odd as the Trotter / strider thing

davem · 05-29-2007, 02:07 PM

Rateliff's Blog entries on History of the Hobbit

http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/05/book-arrives.html

http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/05/fifteen-years.html

davem · 06-06-2007, 12:02 AM

More from Rateliff's blog - Errata he's picked up on http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/06/errata.html

05-29-2007, 07:30 AM	#1
Sardy Wight Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 111	"Mr. Baggins" - The Hobbit Reinterpreted... "Mr. Baggins", a.k.a. "The History of The Hobbit" is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com. See here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026..._email_title_1 At a hundred dollars and nearly a thousand pages, there's little other information abut the hardcover. No description, no artwork has yet been made available (at least as of my writing this). From what I gather (and will stand corrected if wrong) this is to be a collection of Tolkien's work from late in his life re-working the Hobbit to bring it more "in tune" with LotR and M-e in general. I thought I would start a thread for anticipation and discussion of this book... __________________ www.scottchristiancarr.com They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes.

05-29-2007, 08:07 AM	#2
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	Well, volume 1 http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Hobb...0447367&sr=8-1 came out at the beginning of this month over here & I just finished it yesterday. Vol 2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Hobb...0447367&sr=8-2 was supposed to be out next Tuesday, but according to Rateliff's blog he only just completed the Index on Sunday & he's been given a pubilcation date of the 18th of this month. TI suspect that the edition you link to is the slipcased set of both volumes & the 70th anniversary hardback of TH. The first volume is interesting (actually the bulk of vols 1&2 is the original manuscript/typescript of TH, but vol 2 will contain the attempted re-write in the style of LotR which Tolkien began in the early sixties). __________________ “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."

05-29-2007, 10:19 AM	#3
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	Hi Davem, I bought Mr Baggins in Stratford about ten days ago. It is well worth reading, as it goes beyond just the history of The Hobbit, I enjoyed the part about the names of the dwarves ie:-Throw-in (Thorin) and also how Tolkien originally had Bilbo killing the dragon, there's lots of little bits of info that adds to our understanding. His website will be www.JohnDRateliff.homestead.com I believe though there isn't anything on it at the moment. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER. Last edited by narfforc; 05-29-2007 at 10:23 AM.

05-29-2007, 11:30 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I ordered the first volume via internet, since that's the least complicated way for me to get English books here, and it arrived last week. I look forward to reading it, though I'm not sure when that will be... __________________ '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...'

05-29-2007, 01:34 PM	#5
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	I am part way through Mr Baggins and am enjoying it so far - more than I expected since I find the Hobbit hard to read as an adult. I didn't pay that much for it since I got it discounted with the Children of Hurin. Gandalf being Bladorthin is nowhere near as odd as the Trotter / strider thing __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-29-2007, 02:07 PM	#6
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	Rateliff's Blog entries on History of the Hobbit http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/05/book-arrives.html http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/05/fifteen-years.html __________________ “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."

06-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#7
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	More from Rateliff's blog - Errata he's picked up on http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2007/06/errata.html __________________ “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."