I recently came across two foreign editions of The Hobbit I haven’t seen before.
First, The Little Gnome.
I guess the translator didn’t think the made-up word “hobbit” was understandable to Portuguese audiences?
That said, I like the cover design. It’s whimsical if misleading — hobbits had nothing to do with mushrooms, except for eating them — but it does correctly show the hairy feet, pipe-smoking, and curly hair. The overall design reminds me of the 1960s graphic artist Saul Bass.
This French edition, in contrast, shows a very grown-up looking Bilbo, a hirsute Gallic one by his hairy feet and movie-star face with its Brylcreem ‘do. I have the feeling that if he took his striped shirt off, he’d reveal a very chest as well. He squats before his hobbit hole which is undersized for his height while Gandalf gives him, or perhaps that dragon, some side-eye. Gandalf too is different from the usual depiction. His pointed hat has a truncated top and his robe is more of a cape worn over boots and trousers. His staff appears as a walking stick.
Smaug and Rivertown are depicted accurately as in the book.
If you’re interested, here’s another French edition here and a German one.
