pstrongIn a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language. strongppstrongSet in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, J.R.R. Tolkien's emThe Hobbitem 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.strongppBilbo 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.ppBilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain