FOTR

Prologue: (Part One) Concerning Hobbits

This book is largely concerned with Hobbits, and from its pages a reader may discover much of their character and a little of their history.

Further information will also be found in the selection from the Red Book of Westmarch . . .

. . . that has already been published, under the title of "The Hobbit."

They possessed from the first the art of disappearing swiftly and silently, when large folk whom they do not wish to meet come blundering by; and this art they have developed until to Men it may seem magical.

. . . they are nonetheless nimble and deft in their movements.

They are quick of hearing and sharp-eyed, and though they are inclined to be fat and do not hurry unnecessarily, . . .

. . . and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to find.

Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of 'the Big Folk', as they call us, . . .

. . . though they were skilful with tools.

They do not and did not understand or like machines more complicated than a forge-bellows, a water-mill, or a hand-loom, . . .

. . . for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favorite haunt.

Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; . . .

For such readers a few notes on the more important points are here collected from Hobbit-lore, and the first adventure is briefly recalled.

Many, however, may wish to know more about this remarkable people from the outset, while some may not possess the earlier book.

. . . in the great events of that Age that are here related.

. . . since they told of his journey into the East and his return: an adventure which later involved all the Hobbits . . .

. . . the first Hobbit to become famous in the world at large, and called by him "There and Back Again" . . .

That story was derived from the earlier chapters of the Red Book, composed by Bilbo himself . . .