In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale J.R.R. Tolkien s The Hobbit is one of literature s most enduring and well-loved novels. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable unambitious life rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. Written for Tolkien s own children The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.