Farmer Giles of Ham

A commemorative 75th anniversary edition of Tolkien’s classic book, including a revised introduction, a map, a copy of Tolkien’s unpublished short story which he expanded for publication, his notes for an aborted sequel, and the original first edition illustrations by Pauline Baynes.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!

Author Biography

J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 60 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

Christina Scull is the former librarian of Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. She is the author of ‘The Soane Hogarths’ (1991), edits the journal ‘The Tolkien Collector’, and frequently writes and speaks about Tolkien. Her husband, Wayne G. Hammond, is Assistant Librarian in the Chapin Library of Rare Books, Williams College, author of the standard bibliography of Tolkien’s works, ‘J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography’ (1993), and a regular contributor of Tolkien’s notes to the journal ‘Mythlore’. He also lectures on the history of printing and illustration and is a practising book designer and graphic artist – making him the ideal co-author of the acclaimed study of Tolkien’s paintings and drawings, ‘J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator’.

The couple live in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Wayne G Hammond is a librarian at the Chapin Library of Rare Books at Williams College Massachusetts. He is the author of The Graphic Art of C.B. Falls (1892), J.R.R. Tolkien: A Descriptive Bibliography (1993), and regular notes on Tolkien in the journal Mythlore.

Christina Scull is the former librarian of Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. She is the author of The Soane Hogarths (1991), edits the journal The Tolkien Collector, and frequently writes and speaks about Tolkien.

Together, Wayne and Christina have written the two-volume J.R.R. TOLKIEN COMPANION & GUIDE and edited Tolkien’s ROVERANDOM and FARMER GILES OF HAM 50th anniversary edition.