The Hobbit or There and Back Again was written by J.R.R.

Tolkien as a
children's book and was first published in Great Britain in 1937 by George Allen &
Unwin. It was published just before the outbreak of WWII in Europe, and the
book acts as a prologue of sorts for the great trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. While
it was originally conceived as a book for children, it has been accepted as a great
work of literature in its own right.

While The Hobbit was by no means the first fantasy novel, it was among the first
to combine influences from multiple sources. Elements of the book draw from
Norse mythology, classic fairy tales, Jewish literature, and the works of 19th
century Victorian children's authors such as George MacDonald (author The
Princess and the Goblin, among others). The book also experiments with a
variety of literary techniques including forms of "epic" poetry and song.

Setting
The novel takes place in the fictional land of Middle Earth, a complex fantasy
world which Tolkien developed in detail. The book contains carefully drawn maps
showing various parts of Middle Earth including the peaceful and fertile Shire,
the Mines of Moria, the Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood Forest. Each area of
Middle Earth has its own history, characters, qualities, and significance.

Main Characters
The characters in The Hobbit include a wide range of fantasy creatures, most
drawn from classical fairy tales and mythology. The Hobbits themselves,
however, are Tolkien's own creations. Small, home-loving people, Hobbits are
also called "halflings." They are very similar to small human beings except for
their very large feet. Some of the main characters in the book include:

 Bilbo Baggins, a quiet, unassuming Hobbit and the protagonist of the

story.
 Gandalf, a wizard who initiates Bilbo’s journey with the dwarves. Gandalf
causes Bilbo to set aside his reputation for cautious respectability to go on
an adventure that will change the Hobbit forever.
 Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of a group of 13 dwarves who wish to
recover a treasure horde stolen by a dragon.
 Elrond, a wise leader of the elves.
 Gollum, a once-human creature who found and is governed by a great
ring of power.
 Smaug, the dragon and antagonist of the story.