PROLOGUE

The narrative introduces Hobbits: peaceful, agrarian, small folk adept at stealth, disliking machines, and living chiefly in the Shire. It outlines their breeds—Harfoots, Stoors, Fallohides—their westward migrations from the Anduin vales, early settlements like Bree, and their adoption of the Common Speech and writing from the Dúnedain.

It describes the Shire’s founding by Marcho and Blanco under royal leave, its prosperity, mild perils, and the resilient yet unwar-like hobbit character. Social customs, architecture (smials and houses), clans, and genealogical zeal are sketched, with notes on diminished contact with Elves and fear of the Sea.

The text recounts pipe-weed’s history via Meriadoc Brandybuck: Tobold Hornblower first grew true leaf in Longbottom; Bree spread smoking; the plant likely came from Gondor. The Prancing Pony is named as the art’s center, and even Wizards adopted the practice.

The Shire’s ordering is minimal: four Farthings, a largely ceremonial Thain, an elected Mayor overseeing messengers and shirriffs, and Bounders watching borders. Reports of strange outsiders subtly foreshadow change. Bilbo, wealthy and aged, still secretly keeps a ring found on his earlier adventure.

Bilbo’s finding of the Ring is recalled: lost in the Misty Mountains, he discovers it, wins the riddle-game with Gollum, learns the ring grants invisibility, spares Gollum out of pity, and escapes. The text exposes Bilbo’s original false account, Gandalf’s suspicions, and the later acceptance of the true version recorded by Frodo and Sam.

Finally, the prologue details the Shire’s records: the Red Book of Westmarch, its copies (notably the Thain’s Book and Findegil’s transcript), and associated works by Meriadoc and materials at Great Smials and Brandy Hall. These sources validate the coming history and place its start at Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday preparations.