The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein, 1937 Allen & Unwin Publishers

     Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, not one of those hobbits that goes off and has adventures like the Tooks, even if he is a Took on his mother's side, but a respectable hobbit who keeps a respectable table and lives a respectable life in the Shire. At least he is until Gandalf the wizard arrives on his doorstep with a gaggle of dwarves and an adventure in search of a mountain, a dragon, and a treasure.
     The dwarves have had their mountain home, the Lonely Mountain, stolen from them by the dragon Smaug. An ancient prophecy's clues are coming true and the final object they need to collect is a "burglar" who they find in Bilbo. The group sets out, Gandalf, the dwarves, and Bilbo, traveling on ponies to find a way to read their map.
     The journey sends the travelers across the Misty Mountains toward  the city of the elves, but the troupe is waylaid by trolls. Through Bilbo's trickery, they survive and continue on their way. They enter the goblins' lands where Bilbo is separated from the rest of his group, answers a series of riddles for Gollum, and finds the One Ring (though he does not yet know what it is). His reputation is much improved when he rejoins the dwarves in one piece.
     Gandalf calls to an eyrie of Eagles when the goblins and strange, wolf-like wargs take chase. The fellowship takes refuge for a short time, but continue on their way through Murkwood where they encounter giant spiders. Bilbo saves them, only for the group to be captured by wood-elves and Bilbo must save them again. They escape downriver and make their way to Lake-town.
     In Lake-town the humans hope to be rescued from Smaug when the dwarves fulfill the prophecy. They aid the travelers in their quest as best they can. Gandalf's map helps Bilbo, Thorin, and the rest of the dwarves find the secret door. Bilbo is sent in and maps the plan of attack. In addition to finding the chink in Smaug's armor, Bilbo brings back a golden cup from the hoard sparking the dragon's vengeance on Lake-town. Through a twist of gossip, the town's defender and the King of the Dale's heir, Bard, manages to kill the dragon and the dwarves take back their ancient home.
     But the story is not over there. When the elves and humans demand compensation for their aid, Thorin Oakenshield, now king, refuses them and war becomes immanent. When Bilbo finds the Arkenstone (the heart of the mountain and dwarves' greatest treasure) he hands it over to the elves' leader in hopes of preventing the war, but Thorin banishes the hobbit and war becomes inevitable. Gandalf arrives with the news that an army of goblins and wargs is headed their way. The fighting races band together to fight their common enemy, and the Battle of Five Armies commences.
     The humanoids appear to be losing until the timely arrival the Eagles and Beorn, a shape-shifting bear-man, turn the tide. In the battle, Thorin is fatally injured, but reconciles with Bilbo before his death. The people of Lake-town rebuild, and the travelers are rewarded. Bilbo takes only a small portion of his reward, but still returns home a very wealthy hobbit.
     Bilbo's story encourages readers to look beyond what they believe is possible for themselves, to strive to be the best person they may be. Bilbo doesn't believe in himself, doesn't even join the journey until his honor is questioned and he demands that he can do what they expect of him, but after he has joined the troupe, it is Bilbo who saves them repeatedly from the dangers they face, not Gandalf (though he helps), not Thorin (he gets them into some of the scrapes): it is Bilbo Baggins of Bag End who is not one of those hobbits that goes off on adventures who saves the day.
     For this reason Tolkein's prequel to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy becomes a classic, just as the trilogy itself does. The story may not be appropriate for readers under the age of 10-years-old, and with each re-telling, older readers clean a new satisfaction from the familiar tale.