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The Hobbit The Hobbit, or There and Back Again , better known by its abbreviated title The Hobbit , is a fantasy novel and children's book by English author J. R. R. Tolkien . It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children's literature. Set in a time "Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men ", [1] The Hobbit follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug . Bilbo's journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory. [2] The story is told in the form of an episodic quest, and most chapters introduce a specific creature, or type of creature, of Tolkien's Wilderland. By accepting the disreputable, romantic, fey and adventurous side of ...