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Christina Scull
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The Art of the Hobbit Hardcover – January 1, 2011

by J R R Tolkien (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars 563 ratings
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, a sumptuous full colour art book containing the complete collection of more than 100 Hobbit sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien. When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, he was already an accomplished amateur artist, and drew illustrations for his book while it was still in manuscript. The Hobbit as first printed had ten black and white pictures, two maps, and binding and dust-jacket designs by its author. Later, Tolkien also painted five scenes for colour plates which are some of his best work. His illustrations for The Hobbit add an extra dimension to that remarkable book, and have long influenced how readers imagine Bilbo Baggins and his world. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, the complete artwork created by the author for his story has been collected in The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Including related pictures, more than one hundred sketches, drawings, paintings, maps, and plans are presented here, preliminary and alternate versions and experimental designs as well as finished art. Some of these images are now published for the first time, and others for the first time in colour. Fresh digital scans from the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford and Marquette University in Wisconsin allow Tolkien's Hobbit pictures to be seen more vividly than ever before. The Art of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien has been written and edited by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, two of the leading experts on Tolkien and authors of the acclaimed J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, and The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide.
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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harpercollins
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0007440812
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0007440818
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harpercollins; 75th edition (January 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007440812
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007440818
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 563 ratings

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Christina Scull

Christina Scull

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
563 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's illustrations, with one noting how they capture scenes from the book. Moreover, the scholarly content receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting how it documents the context of Tolkien's work. Additionally, the book is considered a great gift for Tolkien fans and a must-have for collectors, while customers find it well worth its relatively modest cost.

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23 customers mention "Drawing quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the illustrations in this book, noting the detailed descriptions and information provided. One customer mentions how the paintings illuminate the story, while another points out that the drawings are drawn in a more simple fashion.

"...Hobbit, along with discarded variations, all with rich and fascinating descriptions and analyses by Hammond and Scull...." Read more

"...The illustrations are primarily black and white. They are enhanced with color in approximately 40% of the illustrations...." Read more

"...I love the details about Tolkien writing and illustrating his wonderful creations...." Read more

"...is a nice preview of what's in the book...." Read more

21 customers mention "Scholarly content"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the scholarly content of the book, finding it captivating and informative about Tolkien's illustrations, with one customer noting it adds to their understanding of the world.

"...Tolkien to illustrate The Hobbit and analyzed them with love and scholarly rigor. The result is a fascinating and beautiful book...." Read more

"...The value of this volume is that it takes us through many of the early drafts, sometimes as many as four full page illustrations, before reaching..." Read more

"...I was very glad to find this book. I love the details about Tolkien writing and illustrating his wonderful creations...." Read more

"...It was amazing to see Tolkien's landscape. There's many places the book has. Rivendell. Versions of Thror's map. Trolls!..." Read more

12 customers mention "Gift value"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great gift for Tolkien fans and a must-have for collectors.

"...The book will reach both of these characteristics very nicely for his birthday gift. The illustrations are primarily black and white...." Read more

"This book is a wonderful gift to all fans of Tolkien. The production quality of the book is excellent, the content is beautiful...." Read more

"...A great gift for a Tolkien lover!" Read more

"...Slipcover is incredible!!! A must for a Tolkien collector. If you order buy two, one to keep wrapped up and one to use...it will be a collectors item!" Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth the relatively modest cost.

"...Well worth the relatively modest cost for an art book." Read more

"...The price was very reasonable." Read more

"What a fantastic book. I feel like it was an absolute bargin at this price. I first read The Hobbit during Christmas break from 8th grade in 1975...." Read more

"...So, in addition to their intrinsic value (which is considerable), these are also good companions to the History of Middle-Earth series and the two-..." Read more

A personal touch from the author that other illustrators can't quite recreate
5 out of 5 stars
A personal touch from the author that other illustrators can't quite recreate
Tolkien is one of my favorite authors, and the Hobbit is my favorite book, so I was really excited when I learned that he did illustrations for it! Tolkien's art has a really distinct and beautiful style that I think captures scenes in the book in a way that reflects his writing style. Whimsical, fantastic, and intimate, but also vast, sophisticated, and mysterious. I couldn't be happier with this book!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • John D. Cofield
    5.0 out of 5 stars A New Look At Old Favorites (With Variations!)
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    J.R.R. Tolkien's prowess as a creative writer is now well known, but there may be some who do not yet realize that he was a gifted artist as well. In The Art of the Hobbit pre-eminent Tolkien scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull have collected every known drawing and sketch made by Tolkien to illustrate The Hobbit and analyzed them with love and scholarly rigor. The result is a fascinating and beautiful book.

    Tolkien was painstaking both in his writings and in his artworks. Often there are several versions of a planned painting, meticulously covered with Tolkien's notes to himself about improvements and adjustments that needed to be made. Tolkien was also knowledgeable about and deeply interested in the physical process of book publishing, and he was heavily involved in the process of designing, printing, and finally publishing The Hobbit. Included in this book are the familiar paintings and drawings that have been included in most editions of The Hobbit, along with discarded variations, all with rich and fascinating descriptions and analyses by Hammond and Scull. There are several foldout pages that provide a wider view of how some drawings developed and changed as well.

    As a Tolkien fan for over 40 years I found The Art of the Hobbit to be a richly rewarding book to examine, and I intend to spend much more time poring over its pages. However impressive the artistic creations of others who have illustrated Tolkien's worlds, nothing matches the special beauty and love that he put into his own paintings and drawings. The Art of The Hobbit well displays that love and beauty, and it should become an absolutely essential part of the libraries of all lovers of Middle earth.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Sean K
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2025
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  • B. Marold
    5.0 out of 5 stars Both subject and treatment are outstanding.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I confess that a large part of the charm of The Hobbit was Tolkien's own pen and ink or water color illustrations he did for the book. The value of this volume is that it takes us through many of the early drafts, sometimes as many as four full page illustrations, before reaching the final version. This is especially valuable with the many versions of the two key maps Tolkien did for the final printed edition of the book.

    Many of the pictures are an antidote to the picture we have been given of key scenes by Peter Jackson's LOTR and The Hobbit films. Perhaps the biggest difference we find is in the depiction of "The Last Homely House", later known as Rivendell. Tolkien did not imagine it as an elaborate art nouveau architecture. Rather, it was not much more that a cozy Swiss style chalet in the foothills of the Misty mountains. The depiction of the woodland elves' abode is also much less imposing than Jackson's rendering.

    This means there is much to be gained by reading the novel, with Tolkien's illustrations, before watching what it became in the very creative hands of Jackson and company. For those of you who have seen the companion book on the Art of Lord of the Rings, I must say this is a better book, because there is much more original work from Tolkien from which to draw (to coin a phrase.) If you have not already bought the LOTR volume, get this one first.

    The only disappointment with this volume is that while the illustrations for the Trolls done by Tolkien are presented, there is nothing said about them, unlike virtually every other series of illustrations.

    The reproductions of all illustrations on large fold out glossy pages is magnificent. Well worth the relatively modest cost for an art book.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • Ghostie Cats
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a lovely volume
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Beautiful and well bound volume. I was lucky enough to be able to attend an exhibition of this artwork in Oxford, and this book brought back great memories. The accompanying text in this volume puts the sketches into context perfectly.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rhonda Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Accompaniment for Tolkien Fans
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely one of the most beautiful books I've seen. This is a gift for my adult son who has been a Tolkien fan for many years. He is also a talented artist. The book will reach both of these characteristics very nicely for his birthday gift. The illustrations are primarily black and white. They are enhanced with color in approximately 40% of the illustrations. The narrative that accompanies the illustrations provides details from Tolkien's perspective and deepens the reader's understanding of Tolkien's story line. Again, I am so pleased with my decision to purchase this book. I am also extremely pleased with the quality of the book and the price through Amazon. Thank you.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Jacqui Wensich
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Art of the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I had an original calender back in the day with much of the featured artwork on it. I was very glad to find this book. I love the details about Tolkien writing and illustrating his wonderful creations. The book just adds to my appreciation of his tremondous contributions.
    The price was very reasonable.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rosa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Der Hobbit mal anders
    Reviewed in Germany on June 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Es war eine Offenbarung, Tolkien nicht nur als Schriftsteller zu sehen, der mit seiner wunderbaren Sprache seine Leser begeistert, sondern in ihm auch den Künstler zu sehen, der mit Stift und Feder Mittelerde lebendig werden lässt. Einfach ein Allroundgenie, ein großartiger Schöpfer einer Welt, die er durch Sprache und Bilder, die er Stück für Stück bis zu seiner Zufriedenheit verbesserte, zum Leben erweckte. Ein tolles Buch, dass ich nur empfehlen kann!
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  • Conan3121
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in Australia on January 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of great images and information. Bought as a present for a LOTR fan. Present was well received.
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  • Symbaern
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très beau livre
    Reviewed in France on September 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Un bel ouvrage en fourreau qui fait le pendant à "The art of the lord of the rings". Même format donc parfait pour un set.
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  • Tarr Bence László
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull's earlier book ammended and made to become a collector's item
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I truly believe the Art of the Hobbit is a very interesting book for people who wish to gain insight to Tolkien's work as an Artist, primarily for Tolkien fanatics. The book is colourful enough to show the progress work of all the illustrations that ended up in the first copy of the Hobbit. However the other pieces of art shown in the book that may have not been published elsewhere are really not much more than drafts or studies for the final illustrations all seen before in Hammond & Scull's earlier book: J.R.R. Tolkien Artist & Illustrator (first published in 1995). In this new Art of the Hobbit (2011) book many of the illustrations that have already been discussed in the earlier book are revisited, but the text rather focus on the development of the final pieces of Art. I personally like the 3 page wide fold-outs, that enable us to see how the illustrations developed. With its large format, hard cover and slip-case, I think it is a definite item for any Tolkien collector.
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  • Tommaso Tafani
    5.0 out of 5 stars commento
    Reviewed in Italy on July 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Per ogni appassionato, le tavole originali delle opere di Tolkien sono un must...un'opera davvero completa e ricca di dettagli.
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