h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Gollum is actually a Hobbit who has been corrupted by the power of the Ring. He is so unlike Bilbo Baggins and so shows what the Ring can do to a 'normal' person.

Tolkein wrote parts of this story during World war 2 and there is always the sense of evil that was felt at this time. I do not think that any of the characters in 'The Hobbit' are based on personalities at this time but there is a definite atmosphere of Good and Evil.

It has been represented as a children's story but it is far from a 'nursery' story, although there is the Fairy Tale element. The characters are well defined and remarkably life-like, not characatures as many children's stories contain. It does not have the wide ranging 'epic' feel of LOTR, but stands on its own as a very readable story.

Hiya, You may want to repeat your comments over at the Peer Review forum, http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F48874?thread=216085 Cheers, ~Bistro

I neglected to mention the detail added to Gollum/Smeagol's history in LOTR in any great depth because I wanted to focus on The Hobbit and the characters therein only making reference to LOTR when I needed to. When the book was written even Tolkien knew the character only as Gollum.