Which London publisher first issued J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit?

George Allen & Unwin first issued J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

The London publishing house released the book in 1937 after Tolkien’s manuscript was read by Stanley Unwin’s young son, Rayner Unwin. Rayner reportedly gave the story an enthusiastic assessment, helping persuade his father to publish it. The firm’s first edition contained Tolkien’s own illustrations and quickly attracted strong interest.

The success of The Hobbit established Tolkien as a commercially important author and prompted George Allen & Unwin to seek another book about hobbits. Tolkien’s response eventually became The Lord of the Rings, which was published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955.

The publisher’s name is sometimes shortened in casual references, but the historically relevant company was George Allen & Unwin. It later became associated with Unwin Hyman and ultimately with larger publishing groups.