Exploring J.r.r. Tolkien's "the Hobbit"

Corey Olsen

Sep 2012 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is an in-depth look at one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century, uncovering its secrets and delights.

“An admirable and thought-provoking consideration of the underlying themes of The Hobbit, following the there-and-back-again progress from its famous first line on through to Bilbo's return home at the story's end.” —Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit

A fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience, Tolkien scholar Corey Olsen takes readers on a thorough journey through The Hobbit chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story: the dark desires of dwarves and the sublime laughter of elves, the nature of evil and its hopelessness, the mystery of divine providence and human choice, and, most of all, the transformation within the life of Bilbo Baggins.

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is a book that will make the classic fantasy story come alive for readers as never before.

“Worthy of your tightly guarded dragon’s treasure. . . . Indispensable.” —Boston Globe

“Sharing Corey Olsen’s personal view of The Hobbit is like having a long conversation with someone who shares the love of a favorite book and is excited to talk about it. His exploration of the journey of Bilbo Baggins will encourage readers to think more deeply about Tolkien’s classic tale.” —Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, authors of The Art of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Ratings and reviews

This book is great. The school bookstore was highlighting our professor's books and he's one of the best so I grabbed it right away. It is incredibly thorough and interesting. I never got to take his Tolkien class, and but this book clearly demonstrates his knowledge and passion. There are spoilers to the book, but why the heck would you be reading this if you haven't read The Hobbit, and/or caught the movie. But as always Prof Olsen how to make learning incredibly enjoyable. The book is worth the money.

Magnificent! Great insight into a great and timeless book.

About the author

COREY OLSEN is president of Signum University and founder of the Mythgard Institute, an online teaching center for the study of Tolkien and other works of imaginative literature. Through podcasts and his teaching website, The Tolkien Professor, Olsen brings his scholarship on Tolkien to the public. Join the conversation at http://www.tolkienprofessor.com, or on iTunes.