To free the village of Ham from the fearsome dragon Chrysophylax, more than just the courage of its inhabitants is needed. With farmer Giles, we meet a typical Tolkien hero who accomplishes great things but doesn't want to be a hero at all. Farmer Giles doesn't look like a hero; he is rather plump, has a red beard, and enjoys a quiet, comfortable life. One day, he chases away a giant, and his fame spreads throughout the land - to his misfortune, as it turns out: for when the cunning dragon Chrysophylax descends upon the kingdom, the call for farmer Giles grows loud. J.R.R. Tolkien published this classic tale between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The present edition is based on the text that was first published in 1949 with illustrations by Pauline Baynes. It also includes an even earlier version.