Today marks the 75th anniversary of the first publication of one of the seminal classics of children’s fantasy literature – J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Since its magical arrival on bookshelves in 1937, the novel has gone on to sell over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over fifty different languages. Its popularity is probably only surpassed by its illustruous sequel, The Lord of the Rings, first published in 1954 and since made into a smash-hit Oscar-winning trilogy of movies by New Zealand film-maker Peter Jackson, released between 2001 and 2003. The Hobbit itself is currently being translated to the silver screen for release, in trilogy format again, beginning this Christmas.
The Library possesses three copies of the novel, including a graphic novel adaption by artist David Wenzel among our new Leisure Reading Collection in Open3. We also have a wide variety of critical works examining the life and work of Tolkien, including copies of The Lord of the Rings. So why not take a visit to Middle Earth today… my precious…?
The Hobbit book cover by Travellin’ Librarian, reproduced from Flickr under CC License.
