'The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and those who are going to read them'

--Sunday Times

'Masterpiece? Oh yes, I've no doubt about that'

--Evening Standard

In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil dominion.

Thus begins J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

NOTE ON THE TEXT

NOTE ON THE 50rH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION

PROLOGUE Concerning Hobbits, and other matters

BOOK ONE

Ⅰ A Long-expected Party

Ⅱ The Shadow of the Past

Ⅲ Thrcc is Company

Ⅳ A Short Cut to Mushrooms

Ⅴ A Conspiracy Unmasked

Ⅵ The Old Forest

Ⅶ In the House of Tom Bombadil

Ⅷ Fog on the Barrow-downs

Ⅸ At the Sign of The Prancing Pony

Ⅹ Strider

Ⅺ A Knife in the Dark

Ⅻ Flight to the Ford

BOOK TWO

Ⅰ Many Meetings

Ⅱ The Council of Elrond

Ⅲ The Ring Goes South

Ⅳ A Journey in the Dark

Ⅴ The Bridge of Khazad-dum

Ⅵ Lothl6rien

Ⅶ The Mirror of Galadriel

Ⅷ Farewell to L6rien

Ⅸ The Great River

Ⅹ The Breaking of the Fellowship