Which Tolkien novel begins with the line “In a hole in the ground…”?

The Tolkien novel that begins with “In a hole in the ground…” is The Hobbit. The full opening sentence introduces Bilbo Baggins’s home as “a hobbit-hole,” immediately establishing the character’s comfortable domestic world.

That opening contrasts with the journey that follows. Bilbo is visited by the wizard Gandalf and later joins Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves on their expedition to the Lonely Mountain. The novel moves from familiar countryside into wild lands, underground realms, and the dragon’s lair.

The opening is among the most recognizable first lines in modern fantasy. It also helps distinguish The Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, whose opening begins with a discussion of Bilbo Baggins and his long-awaited birthday party. The two books share characters and settings but differ considerably in tone and scale.