The Hobbit celebrates its 80 year anniversary today!
Written by JRR Tolkien and published by Allen & Unwin, The Hobbit was released to the public on September 21st, 1937.
The book started out as a tale for children, but it actually leads the reader into darker and deeper territories opening the path for The Lord of the Rings. Its sense of fun and the incredible adventures though are probably what fascinated the publisher’s ten-year-old son who gave The Hobbit an enthusiastic thumbs-up, and the book was scheduled for publication.
The original dust jacket from the 1937 publication.
To celebrate the Professor’s work, we decided to share our favorite quotes from the book!
Alice’s pick:
I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air, I am he that walks unseen.
I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I was chosen for the lucky number.
I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me.
I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider.
Lennie’s pick:
Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a great deal of telling anyway.
Myla’s picks:
Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.
***
“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!”
Valdis’ pick:
It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.
What’s your favorite quote from The Hobbit? Leave a comment down below!
4 Comments