The Annotated Hobbit is essential for two reasons: the new translation of the original text which, although it will surprise more than one, is a major breakthrough, the former dated from 1969 and had many defects. This new translation is particularly known for the quality of the poems and songs. The second reason that makes this edition a must, it is the presence of the many notes which allow to dive back into the history of the writing of The Hobbit and Tolkien in the inspirations for this novel. What a joy to be able to dive for the first time in Chapter 5 original as it was published in 1937 before being revised following the release of Lord of the Rings. And nothing to spoil, many illustrations accompany the text, so those of Tolkien, in color, which accompanied the original text!
