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Mithalwen
02-13-2011, 03:50 PM
Sorry if this is the wrong place but I am thinking of corrupting to Tolkienism... I mean encouraging a love of fine literature by buying a copy of " The Hobbit for the fast approaching birthday of a young lady of my aquaintance. I have looked at the 70th anniversary and Alan Lee editions on Amazon. I like the Tolkien pictures (don't dislike Alan Lee's in general or I wouldn' t consider it) but since I am buying online I wondered if anyone who has seen them in the paper might advise which might best capture the imagination of a lovely, sensitive and imaginative nine year old?

davem
02-13-2011, 04:48 PM
I'd go with the 70th - Tolkien's illustrations fit the story better (imo), & have more of a 'fairy story' feel. Lee's illustrations are too 'realistic'.

Actually, I'd go for a nice Allen & Unwin edition (eg http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=345232088&searchurl=an%3Dtolkien%26bt.x%3D0%26bt.y%3D0%26kn% 3Dallen%2B%2526%2Bunwin%2Bhardback%26tn%3Dhobbit ) for a number of reasons - 1) a nice older edition also emphasises the fairy tale feel - there's something 'magical' about old books 2) the A&U editions were much better quality than the current Harper Collins editions & 3), if you buy a second hand book you aren't giving any money to Rupert Murdoch.