De Hobbit (The Hobbit written by J.R.R. Tolkien)

‘The Hobbit’, or ‘De Hobbit’ in Dutch, is one of the most celebrated works of fantasy literature in history. Written by the English scholar J.R.R. Tolkien, the book was first published on September 21, 1937, by George Allen & Unwin. The story introduces readers to Middle-earth and follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins as he assists a group of dwarves in reclaiming their treasure from the dragon Smaug. Since its inception, the book has never been out of print and has been translated into over 50 languages.

While the original brand and narrative originated in the United Kingdom, the physical production of the books occurs in multiple countries worldwide to satisfy global demand. Publishing rights for the Dutch version are typically held by specialized publishing houses like Uitgeverij Boekerij (part of Meulenhoff Boekerij). Globally, the intellectual property rights for the literary works of Tolkien are managed by the Tolkien Estate, while the commercial 'Tolkien Enterprises' rights (for films and merchandise) have a more complex corporate history involving companies like Middle-earth Enterprises, now owned by the Embracer Group.

The brand's legacy is tied to the scholarly background of Tolkien at the University of Oxford. Today, the literary brand remains a cornerstone of the HarperCollins publishing portfolio (part of News Corp) for English editions, ensuring that the legacy of Middle-earth stays accessible to new generations of readers through high-quality physical and digital distribution.