Annotated Hobbit

The Annotated Hobbit

For readers throughout the world, The Hobbit serves as an introduction to the enchanting world of Middle-earth, home of elves, wizards, dwarves, goblins, dragons,...

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My wife isn't a huge LOTR fan, but she has a degree in linguistics and enjoys language. I got her to read The Annotated Hobbit with me. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was often to get a little more insight into Tolkien's creative process.

One tidbit that I remember enjoying is Tolkien wrote a letter to his editor talking about if he could use the original plural form of dwarf, which was Dwarrow. They decided it was too archaic and that's why we get Dwarves in his work. He was able to use the word in the name Dwarrowdelf.