Tolkien

I discovered The Hobbit at my local library one winter day when I was in sixth grade. It was an old edition with the original wraparound cover by Tolkien, and from the moment I laid eyes on it I was captivated. I’d never been so drawn in by an illustration — it has a hypnotizing effect if seen up close. Ever since then, I’ve treasured the author’s artwork just as much as I do his writing. I was looking through some favorite sketches from the history of The Hobbit the other day, and this rendition of the entrance to the palace of the wood-elves once again reminded me of how special his work is. Not an easy thing to describe.