The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Published: 1937
Novel.

Gandalf tricks Bilbo into hosting a party for Thorin and his band of dwarves, who sing of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure form the dragon Smaug. When the music ends, Gandalf unveils a map showing a secret door into the Mountain and proposes that the dumbfounded Bilbo serve as the expedition's burglar. The dwarves ridicule the idea, but Bilbo, indignant, joins. 

The group travels into the wild, where Gandalf saves the company from trolls and leads them to Rivendell, where Elrond revelas more secrets from the map. Passing over the Misty Mountains, they are caught by goblins and driven deep underground. Although Gandalf rescues them, Bilbo gets separated from the others as they flee the goblins. Lost in the goblin tunnels, he stumbles across a mysterious ring and then enconunters Gollum, who engages him in a game of riddles. As a reward for solving all riddles Gollum will show him the path out of the tunnels, but if Bilbo fails, his life will be forfeit. 

With the help of the ring, which congers invisibility, Bilbo escapes and rejoins the dwarves, improvising his reputation with them. The goblins and Wargs give chase, but the compau are saved by eagles before resting in the house of Beorn. 

The company enters the black forest of Mirkwood without Gandalf. In Mirkwood, Bilbo first saves the dwarves from giant spiders and then from the dungeons of the Wood-elves. Nearing the Lonely Mountain, the travellers are welcomed by the human inhabitants of Lake-town, who hope the dwarves will fulfill prophecies of Samug's demise. The expedition travles to the Lonely Mountain and finds the secret door; Bilbo scouts the dragon's lair, stealing a great cup and learning of a weakness in Smaug's armour. The enraged dragon, deducing that Lake-town has aided the intruder, sets out to destroy the town. A thrush had overheard Bilbo's report of Smaug's vulnerability and reports it to Kale-town defender Bard. His arrow finds the chink and slays the dragon. 

When the dwarves take possession of the mountain, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, an heirloon of Thorin's dynasty, and hides it away. The Wood-elves and Lake-men besiege the mountain and request compensation for their aid, reparations for Lake-town's destruction, and settlement of old claims of the treasure. Thorin refuses and, having summoned his kin from the Iron Hills, reinforces his position. Bilbo tries to ransom the Arkenstone to head off a war, but Thorin is intransigent. He banishes Bilbo, and battle seems inevitable. 

Characters: 

Bilbo Baggins

Gandalf

Thorin Oakenshield

Smaug the Dragon

Elrond

Gollum

Beorn