A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings This charming pocketsized edition contains the complete unabridged text and features the original cover illustration painted by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. The perfect gift for little Hobbits everywhere Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable unambitious life rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. show more