Tag Archives: the Hobbit

“The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there.”

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

George Allen and Unwin, Ltd. of London published the first edition of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit on this date in 1937. It was illustrated with many black-and-white drawings by Tolkien himself. The original printing was only a 1,500 run and sold out by December due to enthusiastic … Continue reading →

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There and Back Again (again)

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled on a post from a random library blog about one of the most beloved books in the English language. The article focused on a wonderful 1966 American edition published in Boston by Houghton Mifflin. It includes Tolkien’s own … Continue reading →

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Bilbo’s Last Song

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Bilbo’s Last Song (At Grey Havens) is a poem about leaving Middle-Earth. It first appeared, as seen here, as a poster published in 1974 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd., the original English publisher of his famous novels, with illustrations … Continue reading →

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Not all those who wander are lost

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Each year on March 25th fans of J.R.R. Tolkien celebrate Tolkien Reading Day.  Around the world folks reread the books, discuss them with friends, and participate in Middle Earth related literary events. The Tolkien Society established Tolkien Reading Day in … Continue reading →

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Compelling Firsts

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Reading Tolkien

Posted on October 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Like millions of other J.R.R. Tolkien fans I have been transfixed by the new televised adaptation of the Middle Earth saga. Waiting for the next episode to drop, I searched out a wonderful set of recordings of Tolkien reading from … Continue reading →

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It is the small everyday deeds of folk that keep the darkness at bay

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

If you are a regular visitor to TBTP, you are well aware that I am a Tolkien aficionado. I imagine that many of you are also fans. Then you will be happy to learn that the Tolkien Estate has launched … Continue reading →

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Another Tolkien Surprise

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector and bookseller, I’ve seen many versions and editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel The Hobbit over the years. However, it wasn’t until recently that I was aware of Swedish and Finnish language editions that were illustrated by the anti-Fascist … Continue reading →

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The Nature of Middle-Earth

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

H/T to faithful reader Bonnie B. for this post Fans of the Tolkien Universe will be happy to hear that a veritable treasure of unpublished writings from J.R.R. Tolkien will be released this coming June by HaperCollins. Titled “The Nature … Continue reading →

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An Unknown Hobbit

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Slovak illustrator Peter Klúcik was commissioned to illustrate a new version of J R R Tolkien’s The Hobbit in 1988. For the project he created 40 illustrations that were rich in detail and quite different from previous works for Tolkien … Continue reading →

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