The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: Revised and Expanded

Shortly, there will be a new edition of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil arriving, for those who like Tolkien's more light-hearted side, younger readers, those who read to the young before bed time, or if you're a fan of Tom Bombadil and Tolkien's poems. 

This version has been expanded to include some of Tolkien's earliest poems, a prose story with Tom, as well as in-depth notes by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, both of whom have made some outstanding contributions and notes to some of Tolkien's works over the years. Their introductions and comments found here will be akin to those they included in Roverandom and Farmer Giles of Ham. 

There will be the 16 poems published back in 1962, as well as the original artwork by Pauline Baynes, famous for her artwork for The Chronicles of Narnia. The poem 'Once Upon a Time' will also be reprinted. 

In this edition, Scull and Hammond were also allowed to include to predecessor to Perry-the-Winkle called The Bumpus. 

I believe that in its own charming way, this title adds upon the mythology of The Lord of the Rings in a manner that The Tales of Beedle the Bard does for Harry Potter, or possibly even The Ice Dragon for A Song of Ice and Fire (that one is debatable if it takes place in the same world as the series or not...)

Many thanks to the great Pieter Collier and the Tolkien Library for sharing this news, as I had not known about this title beforehand. As ever, I look forward to seeing what The Tolkien Estate, Harper Collins and Houghton Mifflin come up with.  The official info is below:

This revised and expanded edition of Tolkien's own Hobbit-inspired poetry includes previously unpublished poems and notes, and is beautifully illustrated by Narnia artist Pauline Baynes. 'Here is something that no devotee of the Hobbit epic can afford to miss, while awaiting a further instalment of the history of these fascinating people - a selection [of verses] offered as an 'interim report' to those interested in Hobbit-lore, and to any others who may find amusement in this mixed bag of old confections.' One of the most intriguing characters in The Lord of the Rings, the amusing and enigmatic Tom Bombadil, also appears in verses said to have been written by Hobbits and preserved in the 'Red Book' with stories of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and their friends. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil collects these and other poems, mainly concerned with legends and jests of the Shire at the end of the Third Age. This special edition has been expanded to include earlier versions of some of Tolkien's poems, a fragment of a prose story with Tom Bombadil, and comprehensive notes by acclaimed Tolkien scholars Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond.

ISBN: 9780007557271

Also of interest.....

ROVERANDOM

While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach at Filey in Yorkshire. To console him, his father, J.R.R.Tolkien, improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy and is forced to seek out the wizard who wronged him in order to be returned to normal.

This charming tale, peopled by a sand-sorcerer and a terrible dragon, by the king of the sea and the Man-in-the-Moon, was Tolkien’s first full-length children’s book, written before The Hobbit. Now, nearly 90 years later, the adventures of Rover – or, for reasons that become clear in the story, ‘Roverandom’ – are published in this delightful pocket hardback edition. Rich in wit and wordplay, Roverandom is edited and introduced by Tolkien experts Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, and includes Tolkien’s own delightful illustrations.

ISBN: 9780007523283

FARMER GILES OF HAM

A commemorative golden anniversary edition of Tolkien's classic book, including a new introduction, a map, a copy of Tolkien's unpublished short story which he expanded for publication, his notes for an aborted sequel, and the original first edition illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Farmer Giles of Ham did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it!

ISBN: 9780007542932