In addition to being a talented wordsmith, Tolkien also created many incredible works of art for his writings. Over the years, we’ve seen more of these pieces released in many ways. And that includes in new editions of The Lord of the Rings books. And now, it’s The Hobbit‘s turn. Releasing this fall is a brand-new version of this Tolkien text. And this edition of The Hobbit comes complete with “over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien, himself.” Not to mention, the complete text comes printed in two colors. Here’s what we know about this new The Hobbit illustrated edition. HarperCollins Publishers Por fim, Tolkien mostra-se habilidoso na técnica de produzir tempo e espaço com palavras. “O Hobbit” é um conto de aventura e viagem, e para descrever uma viagem é preciso fazer com que a distância entre os diferentes cenários deixe-se sentir por mais do que palavras indicativas de lapso temporal (“três dias”) ou espacial (“trinta milhas”). It could be called Adventures of Tom Bombadil & other talesA collection of previously illustrated works with a few extra illustrations mixed in for padding, I could probably get behind that, because I agree the design/format is nice enough (though I'm still unsure on the green for Sil). Part I largely focuses upon the history of the dwarves and the initial hazards that they encounter during their single-minded quest, chiefly battling orcs in the Misty Mountains and finishing with their tribulations with the giant spiders of the vast and ominous Mirkwood forest.

Ulmo wrote:I dunno. It’s kind of fun that they started with the “illustrated” concept, and tried out to see what they could pull off by stretching the concept to its limits. Even without the illustrations, these books are an attractive format, which people are obviously (I would say) buying. So let’s see if we can stretch the definition further, with a little imagination… In October of 1936, Tolkien delivered to his publisher the manuscript of The Hobbit, in which he included more than 100 illustrations — Tolkien, unbeknownst to many, was a rather gifted and prolific artist. These manuscript drawings were recently released in The Art of the Hobbit ( public library) — a magnificent volume celebrating the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit with 110 beautiful, many never-before-seen illustrations by Tolkien, ranging from pencil sketches to ink line drawings to watercolors. With better than a baker's dozen of little folks in starring roles the temptation to over-incorporate moments of comic relief [vignettes of Gimli] must have rivaled the gnawing urge which only The One Ring could normally generate. While some tasteful levity fell well within the bounds of a palatable script, I did actually breathe a sigh of relief once I realized that few such incidents were forthcoming.

Writing about the allure of fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien famously asserted that there is no such thing as writing “for children”— that’s perhaps why his stories continue to enchant generations and attract admirers of all ages. Tolkien’s first major work, The Hobbit ( public library) — which predates his epic novel The Lord of the Rings by nearly 20 years — was published in 1937 and in the years since has drawn remarkable international acclaim. Because the story is driven by visual whimsy, it has also produced a number of vibrant illustrated editions from all around the world, beginning with Tolkien’s own artwork for the original edition, which I wrote about some years ago. Here are a few favorites. J.R.R. TOLKIEN (GREAT BRITAIN, 1937) Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in Bag End by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Although quite reluctant to take part in this quest, Bilbo surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar! Originally published in 1937, The Hobbit has gone on to sell over 150 million copies over the years. It tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit and unlikely hero, who goes on a grand adventure to the lair of Smaug the Dragon. Along the way, he comes into possession of the One Ring, an accident that will have some pretty sizable consequences in the years to come, as told in The Lord of the Rings. HarperCollins have announced a new edition of The Hobbit, illustrated with “a greatly enhanced” gallery of 50 paintings, maps and drawings – due out on 14 September Speaking about this, Chris Smith from HarperCollins said: “ The tale of the little hobbit on a big adventure was first read by the professor to his children as part of their winter reads, using his ‘home manuscript’ of the story. Imagine hearing the tale told to you by its author, spun from golden yarn as he wove the adventure for you, thread by thread? Christopher Tolkien recalls that special time in his foreword included in this new illustrated edition of The Hobbit, and leading Tolkien scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull add that, in this ‘home manuscript’, Tolkien would have been free to illustrate his story using any medium he wanted: coloured pencil, chalk, crayon, ink and washes, a far cry from the restrictions imposed by the publisher on the illustrations printed in the published book.

The description for this new edition of The Hobbit shares more about what we can expect from the tome: When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim the hoard of gold stolen from them by the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf the wizard suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit dwelling in peaceful Hobbiton. It could also include miscellaneous pieces (with obvious thematic connections) like “Water, Wind & Sand”As primeiras páginas do Capítulo V, “Riddles in the Dark”, brindam-nos com uma série de frases deliciosas. Olhe por alguns instantes para fotografias do velho J.R.R. Tolkien, e em seguida leia seu texto em voz alta, como um avô lendo para seus netos — ou como seu avô para você. For the first time ever, a beautiful slipcased edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, with the complete text printed in two colours and with many bonus features unique to this edition.

Velmeran wrote:I hope they stop the Illustrated by the Author line here though, as they already had to stretch the definition of an illustration pretty thin for The Silmarillion and I don't think there is enough material left to fill another book after this release. I dunno. It’s kind of fun that they started with the “illustrated” concept, and tried out to see what they could pull off by stretching the concept to its limits. Even without the illustrations, these books are an attractive format, which people are obviously (I would say) buying. So let’s see if we can stretch the definition further, with a little imagination… Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don’t know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum — as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face. He had a little boat, and he rowed about quite quietly on the lake; for lake it was, wide and deep and deadly cold. » For the first time ever, a special enhanced edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself and with the complete text printed in two colours. In 1967, six years after legendary editor Ursula Nordstrom had nurtured his creative direction and four years after his iconic Where the Wild Things Are, 39-year-old Maurice Sendak was commissioned to illustrate a 30th anniversary edition of The Hobbit. But the project fell through, leaving behind only a single surviving drawing, which Open Culture unearthed.In the first of the two *The Hobbit* entries [sub-titled: *Into The Wilderness*], a more youthful Bilbo Baggins is craftily crow-barred by Gandalf into embarking upon a great adventure (Hobbits *despise* adventures!) and by serving as a burglar for a grumbly troupe of thirteen dwarves, all of whom are determined to reclaim their lost family treasure from the Evil dragon, Smaug; however, the actual battle with Smaug at the Lonely Mountain will have to wait until Part II [to be entitled: *Into the Fire*] is released. Now, in this new edition, readers will at last be able to enjoy the full panoply of J.R.R. Tolkien’s paintings, drawings, maps and designs that richly capture the enchanted world of Bilbo Baggins.’