"The Hobbit is one of the most widely read and best-loved books of the twentieth century. In December 2012, millions will be introduced or reintroduced to J.R.R. Tolkien's classic with the arrival of the first of two film adaptations by acclaimed director Peter Jackson. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" is a fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume, designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience. Professor Corey Olsen (also known as the Tolkien Professor) will take readers on an in-depth 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 revolutions within the life of Bilbo Baggins. Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" is a book that will make The Hobbit come alive for readers as never before"-- Provided by publisher.

A most excellent and audacious hobbit In the Lone-lands The ridiculous and the sublime Over the edge of the wild The turning point Where the wild things are The friend of bears and the guest of eagles The stinging fly Burgling faerie The return of the King

When the thrust knocks Bilbo earns his reward A burglar indeed The meeting of opposites To sit on a heap of gold and starve A leap in the dark The sudden turn Snow after fire Under cloud and under star.