The Hobbit Encyclopedia

This was utterly fantastic!! More than I even thought possible! Tolkien was a genius. I'd like to say "is a genius" because as far as I'm concerned creating creatures and languages, writing songs and developing whole new languages is just not done. At least not done logically. I hold his spirit as the pinnacle to which all other fantasy authors aspire. To be a pragmatic daydreamer is not easily done . It cannot be faked. And I think with the resurgence of all things Tolkien in the last ten years or so it's proven fact that he is king.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion Frances Lincoln for a temporary review copy via NetGalley of ‘The Hobbit Encyclopaedia’ by Damien Bador, Vivien Stocker, Coralie Potot, and Dominique Vigot. It is due to be published in September 2024.

This beautiful edition is exactly what its title indicates: a comprehensive guide that covers all the characters, creatures, places, events, and objects included in J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’, the book that in 1937 first introduced readers to Middle Earth.

While the focus is upon ‘The Hobbit’ there is some natural overlap with ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Silmarillion’, as well as other tales of Middle Earth.

I was very impressed with the depth of the entries on the above subjects as well as on the
languages and the sources of inspiration. It is richly illustrated throughout with original colour drawings.

While I read it from start to finish, it seems like the kind of reference work that can easily be dipped into at any point in the text and also used as a companion while doing a close read of ‘The Hobbit’. It is rounded out with sources for the entries, a select bibliography, and a comprehensive index.

I expect that ‘The Hobbit Encyclopaedia’ will be welcomed by Tolkien fans. I certainly plan to preorder a hardback copy.

What a fantastic and magical read! I could get lost in this book for ages, and soak it in. I highly recommend this read to anyone who enjoys The Hobbit.

This is one that I am going to put on my "need to buy" list when it becomes available next year.

What a wonderful book. As a long time admirer of Tolkien, this book is a worthy addition to all other books written on the subject. Beautifully illustrated and well written, I agree with other reviews that there is very little new to learn from this book but it does add another layer of appreciation of Tolkien and his genius. This is definitely more suitable as a physical book in order to fully appreciate the illustrations and I would be happy to have this in my real library. Altogether wonderful. My thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, and Frances Lincoln for this absolutely stunning arc!

5/5 stars!

Everything about this book is beautiful. The text, the images, the embellishments on the pages - just UGH SO LOVELY! This would be a perfect addition to any Tolkien lovers shelf. I love how concise all the information is, and the bibliography at the back for every quote and bit of info! Excellent!

I loved reading this book, complete with beautiful illustrations it would make a perfect gift for anyone who is a fan of The Hobbit or Lords of the Rings.

Loved this! Highly detailed. Beautiful written. Read after The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I would recommend the actual book over the ebook.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an early copy.

I wish the format was more mobile friendly, but I love Tolkien enough to put up with clunky formatting. This is going to be a beautiful book when it's published.

It was a very great encyclopedia it was very informative and gave me everything I need to know about the hobbits and the middle earth

I want to thank Netgalley and the author 's for gifting me the ebook. Absolutely beautiful photos and just loved this book! If you are a Hobbit fan and fan of the author you will love this book! Highly recommend it.

Gorgeous encyclopedia for all Tolkien lovers!! I absolutely LOVED the illustrations that went along with each entry & found it super easy to dive into and read about what interested me at the time. This is perfect for any Tolkien fan & focuses on the lore for The Hobbit (although there is, of course, some crossover with Lord of the Rings info)

Really beautifully compiled book, that made me eager to re-read The Hobbit once again. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Damien Bador, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review this e-copy! My thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you love The Hobbit, if you love J.R.R. Tolkien, this book is a must-have. A beautifully illustrated treasure trove, perfect as a gift for yourself or all The Hobbit loving members of your inner circle. A masterpiece!

What a splendid book! This is a lovely illustrated encyclopedia of characters related to JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit. The entries are detailed and clearly written. The style of the book fits with the Tolkien theme. The illustrations are detailed and lovely to look at. This book would appeal to the gamut of Tolkien fans. From casual readers to deeply devout aficionados—this book will be a gift for anyone’s collection. Lovely work. Very well done.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC. My opinions are solely my own.

"The Hobbit Encyclopedia" is an extensive guidbook for every Tolkien fan, both old and new. It is structured well, the font used is fitting and the art abslutely gorgeous. Not only is there a lot to learn about the world of Middle Earth itself, but about Tolkien himself as well as the literature he was inspired by. I honestly can't imagine a better book to gift to a LotR / Tolkien fan.

Hobbit fans' ultimate guide to everything Hobbit is The Hobbit Encyclopedia. In this 334 page book, you'll find descriptions of characters, language and writing systems, objects, constructions, places, noteworthy events, and sources of inspiration. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings introduced readers to the world of Middle-earth and to the fantasy world that would inspire Tolkien's future works. This encyclopedia is the perfect place to start if you haven't read Tolkien's works before. A variety of grayscale and color illustrations in the book allow readers to experience Tolkien's world realistically. Maps were not included in the book, which disappointed me. It is written in an easy-to-follow format that will appeal to fans and new readers alike. The entries are quite comprehensive, engaging and capture the attention of the readers, making them want to read the book from beginning to end. Tolkien's works are well represented and researched by the author. Throughout the decades, Tolkien's writing has captured the attention of readers, which makes this book relevant today.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this eArc to review.

This is a beautiful encyclopedia that includes stunning art, family trees and lots of detailed information. I feel like any fan of Tolkien would love this book.