The Hobbit
A great book. First published AD 1937, written in English
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is a children's fantasy novel by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published in 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. It is recognized as a classic in children's literature and is one of the best-selling books of all time, with over 100 million copies sold.
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Where it is set
What it draws on
BeowulfGreat book
AD 1000*
Smaug owes much to Beowulf's dragon: a hoard guarded for centuries, a cup stolen from it by an intruder, and a fury that sets the country on fire. Tolkien had taught the poem for years when he wrote The Hobbit.
Source: Wikipedia, The Hobbit
“Tolkien borrowed several elements from Beowulf, including a monstrous, intelligent dragon.” Read it there
The author’s life
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On these lists
- BBC The Big Read, number 25