#ThereAndBackAgain Readalong
Gandalf! If You Had Heard Only a Quarter of Whave I Have Heard about Him
The Hobbit — Ch. 1 An Unexpected Party — A fantastic introduction to a new world
The first chapter of The Hobbit is one of my favourites in the book.
It is a composite chapter, and quite long even in comparison to other chapters in this book, but it’s also an excellent way to let us see what it’s in store for us.
First, there’s an absolutely fantastic dialogue between Bilbo and Gandalf in front of Bilbo’s home. It’s a game of wits and such a strong introduction to Bilbo (who already appears to be divided between his Baggings and his Took nature) and Gandalf, the canny wizard.
The coming of the Dwarves is a piece of masterful storytelling, as far as I’m concerned. I love the way they appear in small groups, forcing themselves on Bilbo as directed by Gandalf. Bilbo has no choice but to adjust to them, little by little, while his Baggings and his Took parts war against each other. It reveals so much about him — but also about Gandalf, who devised the ruse.
But the episode which reveals that this book will be more — far more — then a funny adventure is Thorin’s story about the Lonely Mountain. Here…
