Bilbo Baggins, the famous Hobbit adventurer, composed his last song after arriving at Grey Havens to board the White Ship on its journey west. He reflects on the leaving of Middle-Earth and the voyage that would take him to the Undying Lands at the end of the sunset. Like Elrond, he had indicated to Frodo that his thoughts were turning towards departure.

There are extensive notes contained within about Baynes' illustrations, which depict two journeys. The larger ones depict the journey that brings the ring-bearers and the company of elves to the Grey Havens and the beginning of the final voyage. Another sequence of smaller vignettes show scenes from The Hobbit as Bilbo remembers his first journey on the eve of his last.

Interestingly, the copyright of Bilbo's Last Song was a gift from Tolkien to a young woman seconded from his publisher in the 1970s to help him with his correspondence--which was vast. He used to joke that if ever a diamond bracelet fell out of an envelope it would be hers. Once, when she was helping him pack up his office before he moved house, Bilbo's Last Song fell out of a book and she loved it so much that Tolkien said it could be her diamond bracelet. It was never published in his lifetime.

Suitable for readers aged 10 and over, this is a stunningly beautiful book that collectors will treasure. --John McLay

Synopsis
Ship, my ship! I seek the west,and fields and mountains ever blest. Farewell to Middle-earth at last,I see the Star above your mast!! Bilbo's Last Song is a poem written by Bilbo, hero adventurer of The Hobbit, before he leaves Middle Earth to take a ship to the Undying Lands beyond the sunset at the end of The Lord of the Rings. Pauline Baynes magical, jewel-like illustrations depict the journey that brings the ring bearers and the company of elves to The Grey Havens and the ship that is waiting to take them on their final journey. Running concurrently is a series of vignettes showing scenes from The Hobbit; so Bilbo remembers his first journey as he contemplates his last. A friend of the author's for many years, Pauline Baynes has included several of Tolkien's own ideas in her portrayal of the characters and scenes. The Lord of the Rings, the book of the 20th Century has been acclaimed as the motion picture event of the 21st Century - a groundbreaking epic of good versus evil, extraordinary heroes, wondrous creatures and dark armies of terror. The extraordinary success of this film has brought Tolkien and his world to the forefront of public consciousness worldwide.