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Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning in The Hobbit
Discover the Christian meaning in The Hobbit.
In Bilbo's Journey go beyond the dragons, dwarves, and elves, and discover the surprisingly deep meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel The Hobbit.
Bilbo's quest to find and slay the dragon Smaug is a riveting tale of daring and heroism, but as renowned Tolkien scholar Joseph Pearce shows, it is not simply Bilbo's journey, it is our journey too.
It is the Christian journey of self-sacrifice out of love for others, and abandonment to providence and grace.
In Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit you will relive the excitement of Tolkien's classic tale, while discovering the profound Christian meaning that makes The Hobbit a truly timeless adventure.
In Bilbo's Journey go beyond the dragons, dwarves, and elves, and discover the surprisingly deep meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel The Hobbit.
Bilbo's quest to find and slay the dragon Smaug is a riveting tale of daring and heroism, but as renowned Tolkien scholar Joseph Pearce shows, it is not simply Bilbo's journey, it is our journey too.
It is the Christian journey of self-sacrifice out of love for others, and abandonment to providence and grace.
In Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit you will relive the excitement of Tolkien's classic tale, while discovering the profound Christian meaning that makes The Hobbit a truly timeless adventure.
141 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
46 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Pearce
176 books291 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
Joseph Pearce (born 1961) is an English-born writer, and as of 2004 Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida; previously he had a comparable position, from 2001, at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is known for a number of literary biographies, many of Catholic figures. Formerly aligned with the National Front, a white nationalist political party, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1989, repudiated his earlier views, and now writes from a Catholic perspective. He is a co-editor of the St. Austin Review and editor-in-chief of Sapientia Press.
Joseph Pearce (born 1961) is an English-born writer, and as of 2004 Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida; previously he had a comparable position, from 2001, at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is known for a number of literary biographies, many of Catholic figures. Formerly aligned with the National Front, a white nationalist political party, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1989, repudiated his earlier views, and now writes from a Catholic perspective. He is a co-editor of the St. Austin Review and editor-in-chief of Sapientia Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 20, 2021
Well, this was delightful! I've long been aware of Joseph Pearce as one of the most respected Catholic literary critics writing today, but this is the first of his books that I've actually read. It will not be the last. *grins, because Frodo's Journey is sitting across the room from me inviting me to pick it up and The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde is coming in the mail*
Um. Where to start?
So, this study takes us through The Hobbit from the first famous sentence to the last conversation between Gandalf and Bilbo. It's jolly good fun--just like chatting with a fellow literature nerd about a mutually beloved book over coffee (or tea, I suppose, since most of us, in this case, are British). Pearce makes lots of beautiful observations about the cleverness and holisticness and theological correctness of Tolkien's often underrated novel. It's great. At first the book doesn't seem to have one particular thesis it's pulling for--not like Michael Ward's Planet Narnia or anything, at least, where there's one dramatic claim being supported again and again with textual evidence--but by the end I had a way better understanding of The Hobbit as a thematically cohesive work, where dragon-sickness is the chief villain and grown-up child-like virtue is the chief goal, and...yeah. It's cool.
There are moments where I'm inclined to disagree a little with Pearce (which is also jolly good fun). For instance, I don't think Gollum's wanting the Ring's assistance in murdering Bilbo is necessarily a glaring weak point in the plot. Gollum might be completely hidden by the darkness under the mountains without the help of the Ring, yes, but wouldn't he make excuses for going back and getting it when he's in a bad mood, having just been bested by the hobbit in a riddling match? The Ring has long ceased to be simply a tool to Gollum; it's his security blanket, and I can see him telling himself that he "needed" it when the truth is that he only WANTED it. That's the psychology of sin, isn't it? Or of addiction, rather? Even if we don't have anybody else to lie to about it, we're going to lie to ourselves.
ANYWAY. That's an example of my minor quibbles. Overall the book is Quite Good, and it only gets better and better as it goes on.
In the last chapter or so it becomes gloriously evident that Pearce knows his Chesterton right to the heart, and it turns out The Hobbit is drenched in Chestertonian gratitude. I hadn't noticed that before, but it totally fits. I am a happy bean. *squeals*
(And I'm gonna have to go revisit The Hobbit now, because it's been a good five years and that's a crying shame.)
Um. Where to start?
So, this study takes us through The Hobbit from the first famous sentence to the last conversation between Gandalf and Bilbo. It's jolly good fun--just like chatting with a fellow literature nerd about a mutually beloved book over coffee (or tea, I suppose, since most of us, in this case, are British). Pearce makes lots of beautiful observations about the cleverness and holisticness and theological correctness of Tolkien's often underrated novel. It's great. At first the book doesn't seem to have one particular thesis it's pulling for--not like Michael Ward's Planet Narnia or anything, at least, where there's one dramatic claim being supported again and again with textual evidence--but by the end I had a way better understanding of The Hobbit as a thematically cohesive work, where dragon-sickness is the chief villain and grown-up child-like virtue is the chief goal, and...yeah. It's cool.
There are moments where I'm inclined to disagree a little with Pearce (which is also jolly good fun). For instance, I don't think Gollum's wanting the Ring's assistance in murdering Bilbo is necessarily a glaring weak point in the plot. Gollum might be completely hidden by the darkness under the mountains without the help of the Ring, yes, but wouldn't he make excuses for going back and getting it when he's in a bad mood, having just been bested by the hobbit in a riddling match? The Ring has long ceased to be simply a tool to Gollum; it's his security blanket, and I can see him telling himself that he "needed" it when the truth is that he only WANTED it. That's the psychology of sin, isn't it? Or of addiction, rather? Even if we don't have anybody else to lie to about it, we're going to lie to ourselves.
ANYWAY. That's an example of my minor quibbles. Overall the book is Quite Good, and it only gets better and better as it goes on.
In the last chapter or so it becomes gloriously evident that Pearce knows his Chesterton right to the heart, and it turns out The Hobbit is drenched in Chestertonian gratitude. I hadn't noticed that before, but it totally fits. I am a happy bean. *squeals*
(And I'm gonna have to go revisit The Hobbit now, because it's been a good five years and that's a crying shame.)
June 14, 2018
Re-reading: July 2016
First reading: May 2015
Joseph Pearce has done a beautiful job of explaining the rich symbolism in The Hobbit and helping us to see how it can be both a children's fairy story and a vehicle for the transmission of faith. While this book relies heavily on understanding The Lord of the Rings to truly understand The Hobbit, I appreciate that approach as it gives the reader a sense of continuity between all of the stories of Middle Earth.
Very insightful, very accessible writing style and just plain good storytelling. This was a very satisfying commentary on a beloved book.
First reading: May 2015
Joseph Pearce has done a beautiful job of explaining the rich symbolism in The Hobbit and helping us to see how it can be both a children's fairy story and a vehicle for the transmission of faith. While this book relies heavily on understanding The Lord of the Rings to truly understand The Hobbit, I appreciate that approach as it gives the reader a sense of continuity between all of the stories of Middle Earth.
Very insightful, very accessible writing style and just plain good storytelling. This was a very satisfying commentary on a beloved book.
December 12, 2012
Though a deeply spiritual study of Tolkien's works—in particular The Hobbit—it is more practical than theoretical and easier to read than other more scholarly works. It tells the journey of Bilbo—guided by Divine Providence—from his comfortable bourgeois laxity, along the path of the beatitudes, facing the danger and temptation of vice, towards his ultimate goal.
February 10, 2023
Przydatna w odniesieniu do pracy licencjackiej. Nic poza.
February 18, 2013
This book purports to tell us the hidden meaning of The Hobbit. Now, I haven't read Tolkien's letters yet (though that library book sits enticingly on my bedside table), but I do recall his famous quote about his stories being just stories, not allegory, etc. However, one's mindset informs one's creations and Tolkien was a devout Catholic so there's more to The Hobbit than meets the eye.
Pearce is a good guide so far, but he again falls prey to that habit I've notice when trying his other essays. His utter certainty about how to interpret the story and his utter insistence that you see it his way have turned me off in the past. He's better about it here than in other places, but yet, I see it still.
That doesn't mean the book is not good. It just means that one must read it with that tendency in mind and in a forgiving mood so you don't get hung up on Pearce's foibles.
More later, as I read on ...
FINAL
Overall, I found the book to be rather scattered. Instead of simply talking about The Hobbit, as the title indicates, Pearce often follows a point to The Lord of the Rings or Silmarillion and back again. For anyone who hasn't read those books it would be quite bewildering. As it was, I found it quite annoying.
Pearce's tendency to lay his interpretations down as the law of understanding underlying story also annoyed me. The Hobbit may be a story about how to get to heaven, but I believe Tolkien himself might have argued about that one. For me it ruins the charm to think of it along those lines. I prefer Corey Olsen's gentler method of opening possibilities up by pointing out motifs, etc. and letting the readers do some of their own thinking. (This is based on both his podcast and what I've read of his book.) Granted Olsen is a teacher so one might expect that style.
This isn't to say that Pearce's book isn't one with interesting points. There were themes he mentioned that I found thought provoking and worthwhile. However, one must be prepared for a little book trying to cover a lot of information in limited space, which does not limit itself to the stated subject ... namely The Hobbit. If you're ok with that, you may give it more stars than I did.
Pearce is a good guide so far, but he again falls prey to that habit I've notice when trying his other essays. His utter certainty about how to interpret the story and his utter insistence that you see it his way have turned me off in the past. He's better about it here than in other places, but yet, I see it still.
That doesn't mean the book is not good. It just means that one must read it with that tendency in mind and in a forgiving mood so you don't get hung up on Pearce's foibles.
More later, as I read on ...
FINAL
Overall, I found the book to be rather scattered. Instead of simply talking about The Hobbit, as the title indicates, Pearce often follows a point to The Lord of the Rings or Silmarillion and back again. For anyone who hasn't read those books it would be quite bewildering. As it was, I found it quite annoying.
Pearce's tendency to lay his interpretations down as the law of understanding underlying story also annoyed me. The Hobbit may be a story about how to get to heaven, but I believe Tolkien himself might have argued about that one. For me it ruins the charm to think of it along those lines. I prefer Corey Olsen's gentler method of opening possibilities up by pointing out motifs, etc. and letting the readers do some of their own thinking. (This is based on both his podcast and what I've read of his book.) Granted Olsen is a teacher so one might expect that style.
This isn't to say that Pearce's book isn't one with interesting points. There were themes he mentioned that I found thought provoking and worthwhile. However, one must be prepared for a little book trying to cover a lot of information in limited space, which does not limit itself to the stated subject ... namely The Hobbit. If you're ok with that, you may give it more stars than I did.
Read
December 3, 2021A good book outlining some themes in The Hobbit, and explains how critics who complain about things like "deus ex machina" are missing the point and subtlety.
I went to a lecture by Joseph Pearce and remember him saying he met a homeschooler who went through the whole LOTR series just to underline a certain recurring theme. He said "that's why I love homeschoolers." And I remember thinking, "yes, makes sense. That's exactly the kind of demented thing we would do."
I went to a lecture by Joseph Pearce and remember him saying he met a homeschooler who went through the whole LOTR series just to underline a certain recurring theme. He said "that's why I love homeschoolers." And I remember thinking, "yes, makes sense. That's exactly the kind of demented thing we would do."
May 9, 2019
J.R.R. Tolkien, as his friend C.S. Lewis, were devout Catholics. This small book was interesting on the meanings behind the stories.
I always loved the similarities between Lewis and Tolkien, as they compared stories every evening at the pub.
With the new movie coming about Tolkien's life, this is great book to read first.
I always loved the similarities between Lewis and Tolkien, as they compared stories every evening at the pub.
With the new movie coming about Tolkien's life, this is great book to read first.
December 6, 2013
Very readable, thoughtful, and actually enjoyable. I think it could be given right along with the original book. Pearce manages to give meaning and insight without sucking the life out of Tolkien's story, or contorting it into a didactic parable.
While his opinions are just that, Pearce's interpretations are consistent with Tolkien's other works and documented beliefs. A fun read that enriches the source book.
While his opinions are just that, Pearce's interpretations are consistent with Tolkien's other works and documented beliefs. A fun read that enriches the source book.
January 4, 2015
I enjoyed this quick read, of only 120 or pages, which tours through the narrative of The Hobbit, commenting on its various human and theological points. It is important to have read the novel before, otherwise, it's one big spoiler. But Pearce has a gift of assembling the underlying themes of stories without being either hyper-academic on the one hand, or mainstream-simplistic on the other.
March 31, 2022
Very insightful.
October 11, 2014
This was a very good companion to The Hobbit. It does a great job of showing what the imagery means and helps point out things you may not pick up on your first reading.
Recommended (especially if reading The Hobbit on your own).
Recommended (especially if reading The Hobbit on your own).
May 28, 2013
Uncovering the hidden depths... An outstanding study guide and the perfect companion to read chapter-by-chapter alongside THE HOBBIT, as I did.
I can see it all so clearly now...!!
I can see it all so clearly now...!!
May 19, 2019
Loved this one too. There was some repeat from Frodo’s Journey, but as the books are related, i guess it’s to be expected. Again, the first third and last third had the most meat for me.
March 31, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and always appreciate Pearce’s perspective and thoughts.
Read
February 6, 2020So, I guess a lot of people have Dragon Sickness...
This was an interesting take on The Hobbit, with some very valid points. Some I already was aware of and some I did not yet know.
However, the author took a lot of side paths in Bilbo's Journey that were not related to The Hobbit.
For example, there were a lot of references to The Lord of the Rings as well. I did not mind this very much, but it is misleading when you read the title. Also, if my memory does not deceive me, there were references to The Silmarillion as well, which may be confusing if you have not read it.
This was an interesting take on The Hobbit, with some very valid points. Some I already was aware of and some I did not yet know.
However, the author took a lot of side paths in Bilbo's Journey that were not related to The Hobbit.
For example, there were a lot of references to The Lord of the Rings as well. I did not mind this very much, but it is misleading when you read the title. Also, if my memory does not deceive me, there were references to The Silmarillion as well, which may be confusing if you have not read it.
May 9, 2022
A beautiful exposition on the Christian symbolism in The Hobbit. Pearce does an admirable job of dissecting the book and pointing out Tolkien's expressions of his Catholic faith. Although you can certainly read The Hobbit as just a fairy story, there is a layered and rich level beyond that which gives a poignancy to this children's tale.
February 14, 2022
Helpful insights on the significance and meaning of different elements in The Hobbit. Pearce is a Roman Catholic, so some his insights reflect specifically RCC teaching. However, with a few exceptions, the book overall is relevant for Protestant theology also.
May 19, 2023
V první řadě se musím aspoň v krátkosti zmínit o naprosto NÁDHERNÉM obalu českého vydání. A teď už ke knize.
Jedná se o velmi útlou, ale informacemi nabitou knížečku, která kapitolu po kapitole projíždí ve zkrácené a shrnuté verzi děj Hobita a vypichuje a vysvětluje věci, které mi z většiny unikly. Hobit je skrz na skrz alegorie na duchovní růst a je tam tolik jasných odkazů na křesťanství, že se až stydím, že jsem si jich prve nevšimla xd. Opravdu moc krásně, srozumitelně a jasně podána hlavní problematika a vlastně celé téma Hobita, doporučuju všem, koho jen trošku Hobit a potažmo celý tolkienovský svět zaujal (kniha často cituje i LOTRa).
Jedná se o velmi útlou, ale informacemi nabitou knížečku, která kapitolu po kapitole projíždí ve zkrácené a shrnuté verzi děj Hobita a vypichuje a vysvětluje věci, které mi z většiny unikly. Hobit je skrz na skrz alegorie na duchovní růst a je tam tolik jasných odkazů na křesťanství, že se až stydím, že jsem si jich prve nevšimla xd. Opravdu moc krásně, srozumitelně a jasně podána hlavní problematika a vlastně celé téma Hobita, doporučuju všem, koho jen trošku Hobit a potažmo celý tolkienovský svět zaujal (kniha často cituje i LOTRa).
August 22, 2025
It was very fitting that I read this book during the Jubilee year when a lot of Catholics are going on Pilgrimages to Rome. Bilobo's journey to the Lonely Mountain was a pilgrimage for him! It changed him for the better. In his Hobbit home before the arrival of the dwarves, he had dragon sickness just like Smaug. The journey taught him what it means to be sacrifical for others, which the most important thing one can learn!
August 24, 2025
Bilbo’s Journey is a rich and insightful exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit through the lens of Christian virtue, moral growth, and spiritual symbolism. Author Joseph Pearce unpacks the deeper meaning behind Bilbo Baggins’ unexpected adventure, revealing how the little hobbit’s journey mirrors our own interior battles between comfort and courage, selfishness and sacrifice.
Pearce masterfully weaves theological reflections, literary analysis, and a touch of humor to highlight how The Hobbit is more than just a children’s tale—it’s a soul-shaping pilgrimage. From Bilbo’s reluctant start in the Shire to his heroic acts of mercy and wisdom, the book shows how every step of his quest reflects a transformation rooted in humility and virtue.
What makes Bilbo’s Journey especially compelling is its accessible tone and heartfelt insight. The commentary doesn’t just stay academic; it stirs the heart. Readers are invited to reflect on their own spiritual paths, to recognize the dragons within, and to embrace the call to adventure with trust in divine providence.
A wonderful companion for Tolkien fans, lovers of moral literature, or anyone seeking meaning in the mythic, Bilbo’s Journey leaves you both encouraged and challenged to become a bit more like the humble hobbit—braver, wiser, and more virtuous by the end of the road.
I loved this short little book and highly recommend reading it!
Pearce masterfully weaves theological reflections, literary analysis, and a touch of humor to highlight how The Hobbit is more than just a children’s tale—it’s a soul-shaping pilgrimage. From Bilbo’s reluctant start in the Shire to his heroic acts of mercy and wisdom, the book shows how every step of his quest reflects a transformation rooted in humility and virtue.
What makes Bilbo’s Journey especially compelling is its accessible tone and heartfelt insight. The commentary doesn’t just stay academic; it stirs the heart. Readers are invited to reflect on their own spiritual paths, to recognize the dragons within, and to embrace the call to adventure with trust in divine providence.
A wonderful companion for Tolkien fans, lovers of moral literature, or anyone seeking meaning in the mythic, Bilbo’s Journey leaves you both encouraged and challenged to become a bit more like the humble hobbit—braver, wiser, and more virtuous by the end of the road.
I loved this short little book and highly recommend reading it!
September 26, 2022
It made some good points, however, I felt the author made a critical mistake saying it wasn't fair to consider how Tolkien depicts the elves in the Hobbit to the way he does in Lord of the Rings. For you see, the author spends quite a bit of time comparing characters from the Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings. Simply changing the title of the book would have improved my expectations. By calling it Bilbo's Journey, I expected the focus to be on Bilbo, but the focus shifts often to other characters in the Hobbit, and even to Aragorn. Aragorn received more time in the book than seemed appropriate for a book allegedly focusing on the Hobbit to the point where I felt we got lost from Bilbo's Journey.
November 13, 2017
I'd prefer the option to give this 4.5 stars. A five-star rating is reserved, in my economy, for a book that has changed, or will change, my life. I can't bring myself to award this one with that honorific. But, it comes mighty close. I thought I'd read "The Hobbit" before. Now I see that I was wrong. I missed so much. I will hurry back now to read it again expecting to enjoy it more fully.
If I was the kind of person to insist that all my friends read a book, then this is the companion title I'd assign to all who express any fond remembrance of having read "The Hobbit". Do yourself a favor if you are among them.
If I was the kind of person to insist that all my friends read a book, then this is the companion title I'd assign to all who express any fond remembrance of having read "The Hobbit". Do yourself a favor if you are among them.
September 20, 2021
I loved this book! It made me love The Hobbit even more (is it possible for me to love Tolkien's works more? I have found emphatically the answer is yes! By reading works like this book or re-reading Tolkiens works the Good, the True, and the Beautiful shown in Tolkien's stories becomes more and more evident. I highly recommend this book to any Tolkien lover, particularly those who are Catholic and recognize how the works of Tolkien are fundamentally based on his Catholic worldview. I would recommend that you have at least once read the Hobbit and the entire Lord of the Rings before reading this work, as you will gain more if you have that experience first.
May 14, 2019
I love this book! The symbolism in the Hobbit is significantly more subtle than in LOTR, and Pearce's brilliant illumination added such depth to my understanding of Bilbo's adventure! The book does contain spoilers for other tales of Middle Earth, particularly LOTR, but is a more meaningful read in review of the four main books, anyway. I did take away much more from LOTR after reading Frodo's Journey (Pearce's companion to this book), but of the two, this one (Bilbo's Journey), is my favorite. Both are definitely worthy reads for religious Tolkien fans!
February 28, 2020
See my review for Pierce’s book on Frodo’s journey in the LoTR, as they are very similar. I greatly enjoyed reading these two books.
I liked this one a bit better than the book on the LoTR, not necessarily because it was better but because I’ve read so much about LoTR and not so much on the Hobbit. The Hobbit is so readily protrayed as a child’s story, but it’s very clear with some analysis that there is plenty of depth in the tale for adults to read and reflect upon.
Not too long or heady. Just enjoyable.
I liked this one a bit better than the book on the LoTR, not necessarily because it was better but because I’ve read so much about LoTR and not so much on the Hobbit. The Hobbit is so readily protrayed as a child’s story, but it’s very clear with some analysis that there is plenty of depth in the tale for adults to read and reflect upon.
Not too long or heady. Just enjoyable.
July 20, 2021
While I was reading The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, it was difficult for me to pick out a direct connection between Catholic doctrine and tradition. There were tons of Christian themes (though it’s hard not to have Christian themes when Christianity is the basis of Western civilization), but I had expected a clearer allegory (I think I was spoiled with the obviousness of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia). This book is very helpful in displaying the connection, especially in Pearce’s discussion of industry vs nature. I really enjoyed the chapter on the inspiration from the Franciscans.
December 3, 2023
É sempre interessante entender como a imaginação moral de um escritor católico se revela em suas obras. A sutileza de Tolkien de tratar da conversão que todos precisam sofrer para nos tornarmos verdadeiramente adultos é coisa de gênio. Outro ponto bem interessante é a abordagem que Pearce faz da “doença do dragão”, algo infelizmente tão atual, que é o materialismo. Queremos coisas materiais mesmo que não tenhamos realmente nenhuma utilidade para elas, apenas pela ostentação. É a tônica das redes sociais em que a aparência é cada vez mais evidente.
November 17, 2017
This was my first time reading Joseph Pearce. I was delighted to find his writing extremely readable, yet not simplistic. Despite the book being short (119 pages, or 132 with appendixes) and a relatively quick read (I read it in a single evening), it is not lacking in depth. It is full of profundity. Pearce has an understanding of Tolkien as a person that sheds a beautiful light of insight on his writings.
July 20, 2018
I listened to the audiobook to get an idea of what this book was about. There were a lot of great insights and I’m feeling inspired to re-read The Hobbit. It didn’t exactly make me want to run out and purchase a copy of this book for my shelf, though. My husband thought it was a bit long-winded. Looking at Pearce’s other titles, I judge that there is probably repetition between some of his books, which I’d listen to, but not want to read.
December 21, 2021
I have struggled to read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books multiple times. I think one of the reasons is because I’ve always known that there is wonderful symbolism contained in the books but I also knew that I wasn’t picking up on most of it. After reading this book I feel like I hold the keys which unlock the mine that is J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m very much looking forward to the treasure which I’ll find… not the “dragon sickness” pursuit of treasure though ;)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews