Exploring J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is an in-depth look at one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century, uncovering its secrets and delights. "An admirable and thought-provoking consideration of the underlying themes of The Hobbit, following the there-and-back-again progress from its famous first line on through to Bilbo's return home at the story's end. " —Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit A fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience, Tolkien scholar Corey Olsen takes readers on a thorough journey through The Hobbit chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story: the dark desires of dwarves and the sublime laughter of elves, the nature of evil and its hopelessness, the mystery of divine providence and human choice, and, most of all, the transformation within the life of Bilbo Baggins. Exploring J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is a book that will make the classic fantasy story come alive for readers as never before. "Worthy of your tightly guarded dragon's treasure. . . . Indispensable. " — Boston Globe "Sharing Corey Olsen's personal view of The Hobbit is like having a long conversation with someone who shares the love of a favorite book and is excited to talk about it. His exploration of the journey of Bilbo Baggins will encourage readers to think more deeply about Tolkien's classic tale. " —Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, authors of The Art of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien