Four long expected parties

J.R.R. Tolkien decided to begin writing a follow-up to his highly successful Hobbit. This would prove to be a daunting undertaking. With his thoughts consumed by the Silmarillion tales he sought to connect hobbits to that world. It became evident quickly to Tolkien that Bilbo's mysterious magic ring would provide the connection; but how was another question. As Christopher Tolkien noted the most laborious part of the writing of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) was the beginning. How do you connect this isolated children's story to a sprawling epic mythology that has been brewing in the mind for over 20 years? And this isn't speaking of other challenges to the writing process: namely a full-time professorship and a full-scale world war.

Case in point the adeptly titled first chapter of (LOTR) "A long expected party" which is a clever rift on the first chapter of The Hobbit "An unexpected party". Tolkien wrote this chapter four times. I've never attempted the writing of book; I would think starts and stops are not infrequent. I do not envy Tolkien's process void of Microsoft Word and the Internet. So each time he rewrote the opening chapter it was either a jumbled manuscript full of editorial marks or a complete rewriting. The painstaking time involved.

In general the first germs of LOTR felt very Hobbity. A narrator was still present, perhaps not as frequent as The Hobbit, and it still feels a bit playful. I will comment on a few highlights from the four versions of a long-expected party. Version one:

• The first version references Bilbo's disappearance some 20 years ago to which Bilbo never fully explained but "...he wrote a nonsensical account" (p. 13, The Return of the Shadow). That adequately addresses The Hobbit as existing and perhaps of a slightly different style than that which this new account would take shape. 
• The special occasion of the party is Bilbo's 70th birthday and 20 year anniversary of his return.
• Bilbo's last statement (which he wasn't sure why he said) before disappearing: "I am going to get married" (p. 14, The Return of the Shadow).
• "That's that. It merely serves to explain that Bilbo Baggins got married and had many children, because I am going to tell you a story about one of his descendants, and if you had only read his memoirs up to the date of Balin's visit -- ten years at least before his birthday party -- you might have been puzzled" (p. 15, The Return of the Shadow). 
• The next day Bag End was open with an ENTER sign; everything in the house was bequeathed to admirable hobbits; often with a bite to the gift: "'For Gorboduc Grubb with best wishes B. Baggins'-on a gold fountain pen; he never answered letters" (p. 15 The Return of the Shadow).
• It is revealed that Bilbo had completely spent everything from his share of the Lonely Mountain profits (albeit a pretty penny was spent on the large penny).
• And the chapter ends a bit mysteriously noting that Bilbo's younger friends missed him; "But he had not said good-bye to all of them - O no. That is easily explained" (p. 17, The Return of the Shadow). Many elements from version one survived all the way through while many others did not. 

Version Two:

• It is now Bilbo's 71st birthday. 
• More details on the party preparation including strange folks who brought many supplies: Elves, Dwarves and Men. The latter of who led to a rather disagreeable situation: "All the beer at the inn vanished as if down a drain when they came downhill again" (p. 20, The Return of the Shadow).
• A reference to hobbit children as hobbit-fry; I rather like that name. 
• Gandalf and his amazing fireworks show up in this version--several of the firework names tie into the Hobbit: dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, and goblin-barkers. His display is quite grand and of course his dragon themes finalé startled the party-goers.
• The extra special 144 guests are mentioned for the first time. 

Version Three:

• Picks up with Bingo, son of Bilbo preparing for his 72nd birthday. 
• I love this line: "It is no good telling hobbits about dragons: they either disbelieve you, or feel uncomfortable; and in either case tend to avoid you afterwards" (p. 29, The Return of the Shadow).
• Bilbo was married at 71 and disappeared at 111. Bingo was a mere 39 when his father left; and odd to all around, never went into mourning regarding his parents disappearance. 
• Bingo never married and had lived in Bag-end for some 33 year on his own (we start to see the familiar numbers of 111 and 33 come through). 
• Much of the rest of the story follows version two closely; although Bingo remarks he is half the man of his father (not coincidental it was his 72 birthday and Bilbo's 144th).
• The ring now becomes Bilbo's parting gift to his son.
• In this version Bingo is present for the "gifts" he left in Bag-end. He was able to hear the commotion as hobbits found their parting gifts as he sat invisibly in a cupboard. 
• This version ends with Bingo locking Bag-end (and leaving the key) and trotting off so as to not keep some folks waiting too long. 

Version four:

• One key change Bingo Baggins now becomes Bingo-Bolger Baggins nephew of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo's marriage was short-lived indeed not surviving after version three of a long-expected party. 
• Bilbo was 99 when he adopted Bingo (27) and named him heir of Bag-end (sorry Sackville-Bagginses).
• Bilbo disappeared shortly before his 111th birthday and Bingo, carrying the strange ways of his uncle, continued to celebrate Bilbo's birthday (which is now the same day has his own).
• Much of the rest of version four is found in the previous three with some minor adjustments here and there.