The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Publisher's Weekly

July 2, 2012
Since 2009, Washington College English professor Olsen's Web site, The Tolkien Professor, has provided accessible insight into the works of famed academic and fantasist J.R.R. Tolkien. Fans of that site will be pleased to discover Olsen narrowing his focus here to The Hobbit, the children's book in which the first tentative steps that would eventually lead to Mount Doom itself were taken. Olsen studies Tolkien's work chapter by chapter, illuminating details of character and plot that might otherwise escape the reader; the various versions of the work in question and the reasons why Tolkien altered his work are likewise examined. A work of love backed up by professional experience, this book is packed with information; the author's infectious enthusiasm pervades his words, ensuring that what could have been a dry work in other hands will retain even a casual reader's interest. The result is a text suitable for fans and scholars alike. Agent: Joe Monti, Barry Goldberg Literary.

From Publisher's Weekly

January 7, 2002
Between the film release of Harry Potter
and The Lord of the Rings, this is the season of the magical movie, and this audiobook is an inevitable spinoff. Countless readers have grown up on the adventures of the little furry hobbits who crave good food and a warm bed, but wind up trapped in caves, attacked by spiders and burdened by a dizzying assortment of treacherous adventures. While the stories are quite intricate, the message of good triumphing over evil is always evident. This appealing theme of the downtrodden overcoming obstacles is what keeps listeners' attention. There is so much action on this dramatization that listeners may often feel pulled in many directions. The narrators, including Ray Reinhardt as Bilbo and Bernard Mayes as Gandalf, are engaging, and the sound effects (including noises in the cave or forest, or the hobbits sitting down to a meal) are also quite strong. But those not already familiar with the story may find it difficult to distinguish between the various characters or keep track of all the action. Listeners will probably want to read the book along with listening, or perhaps listen and then watch the movie. The tapes are presented in a rustic-looking wooden box, making this appropriate for gift giving.

From Library Journal

October 1, 2001
First published in the U.K. in 1937, this is the volume that introduced the world to hobbits, Middle-earth, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and the Ring of power. A new edition, formatted for younger readers, was released in August and features cover art by Peter S s (ISBN 0-618-16221-6. $18; pap. ISBN 0-618-15082-X. $10).

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

August 1, 2001
In time for the release of the second installment in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy comes Tolkien scholar Douglas A. Anderson's The Annotated Hobbit: Revised and Expanded Edition. Anderson has incorporated much new information unearthed since the book first appeared in 1988. National author tour.

From Publisher's Weekly

November 1, 1989
Noted artist Hague provides 48 dazzling paintings for this first-ever version of the timeless fantasy classic. All ages.

From AudioFile Magazine

The prologue to Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS series is lavishly produced by the BBC. In Middle-earth, an unassuming hobbit named Bilbo Baggins is reluctantly whisked off on a quest for treasure by the mysterious wizard, Gandalf. The actors do a first-rate job. A lot of wit as well as loving care went into the dramatization. However, important aural clues are missing, making the action frequently obscure. The producers went a little overboard on sound and music, further muddying things up. This is best enjoyed by those who already know the tale. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine