The Hobbit: Book Zero in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The journey through Middle-earth begins here with J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his Lord of the Rings trilogy. “A  glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and  seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible... All those, young or  old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts.”—The New York Times Book Review "In  a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most  beloved and delightful tales in the English language—Tolkien's prelude  to The Lord of the Rings. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels. 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.