|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Nov 2, 2012 4:24:56 GMT -6
I just got a new book called Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey Olsen. Apparently Olsen teaches an actual college course on Tolkien and runs a Tolkien-related podcast here. I'm only a little way into the book, but so far I like his writing style and such. It's not a really thick book, not overly technical, and is fun so far. Of interest (and mild frustration to me) is the fact that his discussion is based on the 1937 version of the Hobbit, which I do not own, instead of the more modern revision. He wanted to study the story as its own pure thing, and not as an extension of the Lord of the Rings. Just thought I'd spread the word a little... |
|
|
|
Post by owlorbs on Nov 2, 2012 8:54:10 GMT -6
Cool. Added the book to my wishlist.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stormcrow on Nov 2, 2012 19:38:34 GMT -6
Of interest (and mild frustration to me) is the fact that his discussion is based on the 1937 version of the Hobbit, which I do not own, instead of the more modern revision. He wanted to study the story as its own pure thing, and not as an extension of the Lord of the Rings. I've been listening to Professor Olsen's podcast for a long time, since there were only a handful of them. The two things you mention are not directly related. The differences between the first and second editions are almost entirely in the chapter "Riddles in the Dark," and in the character of Gollum. He does focus too heavily on elements that are only in the first edition; he just doesn't want to go into an explanation of how the Ring has affected Gollum and how it eventually effects Bilbo. As a standalone story, these elements are entirely unimportant. |
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Nov 3, 2012 5:41:39 GMT -6
That's good to know. I've been wanting to track down and read a 1937 Hobbit, but they are so darned rare and expensive. Nice to know that there aren't many differences between the editions other than "Riddles in the Dark" (and I think I found online the text to the old version of that chapter somewhere; at least I have a Word doc that has this information).
|
|
|
|
Post by bigjackbrass on Nov 3, 2012 6:38:06 GMT -6
You might like to get hold of a copy of Douglas A. Anderson's The Annotated Hobbit, which not only has lots of additional notes accompanying the text but also points out many of the changes made in the revised version, such as the removal of tomatoes because they were New World and seemed out of place. There have been a few book club editions too, which makes it relatively cheap on the secondhand market.
|
|
|
|
Post by Finarvyn on Nov 3, 2012 8:03:33 GMT -6
You might like to get hold of a copy of Douglas A. Anderson's The Annotated Hobbit... I must confess that I have a copy of this on my shelf but have never read it.  The font size is smaller than my regular copy of the Hobbit, so every time I pick the book up I tell myself "I should just read the Hobbit instead." |
|
