The book is entirely unwieldy. It's too thick. I very much prefer the two-volume edition, format-wise.

oxonianus wrote:

The book is entirely unwieldy. It's too thick. I very much prefer the two-volume edition, format-wise.

I haven't read through this behemoth myself having just received it, but I have been impressed that the book lays flat all the way through - no matter which page I want to look at, the spine flexes well and allows that page to stay open without trying to flip to other pages. I cannot imaging trying to hold this book up in my normal reading posture, certainly!

I bought the box set of the two-volume edition with the 70th anniversary Hobbit way back when. I'm quite surprised at the prices that set is going for now.

I suppose the weighty single volume would be fine if it were more of a reference work, but it isn't. It's meant for reading at length the various drafts, with the notes and commentary subordinated to them. It's an informative and interesting work which, I think, is wronged by being presented in this enormous engagement-hindering hand-tiring brick. A return to the presentation in two volumes would have been nice, along with a new version of the box set.

Amazon claimed it was ~ 2.5 ibs and less than 2.5" but it's about 3". Not handy at all.
The volume will lay flat opened to almost any page. Easy to transcribe from when flat.

I bought it from Kennys (https://www.kennys.ie/fiction/the-history-of-the-hobbit-1) a couple of days ago. I don't particularly like the huge size of the volume, but I found the price attractive.
They were very kind to send me a photo of the book before shipping, to make sure it was the "right" edition with the new cover.

Mauro D86 wrote:

I bought it from Kennys (https://www.kennys.ie/fiction/the-history-of-the-hobbit-1) a couple of days ago. I don't particularly like the huge size of the volume, but I found the price attractive.
They were very kind to send me a photo of the book before shipping, to make sure it was the "right" edition with the new cover.

For anyone wanting to buy UK Editions from outside the UK, kennys.ie can be a good place to try. Sometimes prices are really good and even when they are not, delivery is really cheap (For some reason USA is a lot more than other destinations, but still good in comparison to many other retailers).

Delivery:

Ireland FREE
UK €1.50 per book
USA €9.50 per book
All other destinations €1 per book

https://www.kennys.ie/delivery-details

remy wrote:

For anyone wanting to buy UK Editions from outside the UK, kennys.ie can be a good place to try. Sometimes prices are really good and even when they are not, delivery is really cheap (For some reason USA is a lot more than other destinations, but still good in comparison to many other retailers).

Delivery:

Ireland FREE
UK €1.50 per book
USA €9.50 per book
All other destinations €1 per book

https://www.kennys.ie/delivery-details

Totally agree with you. I would also add that they have an efficient customer service, based on my experience.

I went to order the book today on Kenny's and it appears they have removed the book from theirs system, or an error, but it is not available.

onthetrail wrote:

I went to order the book today on Kenny's and it appears they have removed the book from theirs system, or an error, but it is not available.

Here it is again: https://www.kennys.ie/shop/the-history ... liff-john-d-9780008601409

Eorl the Young wrote:

onthetrail wrote:

I went to order the book today on Kenny's and it appears they have removed the book from theirs system, or an error, but it is not available.

Here it is again: https://www.kennys.ie/shop/the-history ... liff-john-d-9780008601409

Thank you Eorl. Hope all is well