"The History of The Hobbit" presents for the first time, in two volumes, the complete text of the original manuscript of The Hobbit, and this is accompanied by John D.Rateliff's lively and informative commentary, which looks at the story behind Tolkien's talc and discusses the many themes contained within. As well as recording the numerous changes made to the story both before and after publication, it examines - chapter-by-chapter - why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien's ever-growing concept of Middle-earth.