A BRIEF HISTORY OF 'THE HOBBIT'

So, thanks to amazon.co.uk, et al., the word is now out that a new version of my edition of THE HOBBIT manuscript is on the way. Entitled A BRIEF HISTORY OF 'THE HOBBIT', it'll be about half the length of the full edition (the best text of which is the one-volume HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT [2011]). My goal is to include all the Tolkien from the original edition but to greatly condense my commentary. In short, the end result will be a book with a much greater percentage of Tolkien and a much smaller percentage of Rateliff.

Pursuant to this goal, I'm seeking to correct all the errata I can. So if you're aware of any errata in the one-volume H.o.H. volume --errors new to that edition, or older errors not corrected in it -- drop me a line via the comments and I'll check them against my list.

Here's a link to the amazon.co.uk listing for the new book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brief-History-Hobbit-John-Rateliff/dp/0007557256

--John R.

current reading: A GRAVEYARD FOR LUNATICS (Bradbury), TALES OF INSPECTOR LE GRASSE (Henderson)
current audiobook: THE DUNWICH HORROR
current dvd: rewatching THE HOBBIT (part one, extended edition), rewatching CALL OF CTHLUHU (silent movie)

I Am Interviewed

. . . by Michael Martinez, as the second in a series of pieces he's doing with Tolkien scholars (the first, last week, was with MYTHLORE editor Janet Croft; next week's being with Wayne & Christina (Oct. 28th), followed by Michael Drout (Nov. 4th) and then John Garth (Nov. 11th). Mine mostly focuses on THE HISTORY OF THE HOBBIT, but does expend to other matters Tolkienian as well. Here's the link:

http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/10/21/an-interview-with-john-rateliff/

--John R.