Preface to the Second Edition -- Introduction -- An unexpected party -- Roast mutton -- A short rest -- Over hill and under hill -- Riddles in the dark -- Out of the frying-pan into the fire -- Queer lodgings -- Flies and spiders -- Barrels out of bond -- A warm welcome -- On the doorstep -- Inside information -- Not at home -- Fire and water -- The gathering of the clouds -- A thief in the night -- The clouds burst -- The return journey -- The last stage -- Appendix A: The quest of Erebor -- Appendix B: The Runes -- Bibliography -- Map of Wilderland

"Expanded and completely redesigned, Douglas A. Anderson's The annotated Hobbit is the definitive explication of the sources, characters, places and things of J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless classic. Integrated with Anderson's notes and placed alongside the fully restored and corrected text of the original story are more than 150 illustrations showing visual interpretations of The Hobbit specific to many of the cultures that have come to know and love Middle-earth. Tolkien's original line drawings, maps, and color paintings are also included. ... It gives a valuable overview of Tolkien's life and the publishing history of The Hobbit and explains how every feature of the story fits within the rest of Tolkien's invented world. Here we learn how Gollum's character was revised to accommodate the true nature of the One Ring, and we can read the full text of The quest of Erebor, Gandalf's explanation of how he came to send Bilbo Baggins on his journey with the dwarves"--Flap page 1 of dust jacket