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The Hobbit

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The Hobbit

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Andy Serkis
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This brand-new unabridged audio book of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved The Hobbit is read by the BAFTA award-winning actor, director and author, Andy Serkis.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…

The prelude to THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century.

 Action & Adventure Classics Dragons & Mythical Creatures Epic Fantasy Fiction Magic Mythology Funny Feel-Good Suspenseful
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Critic reviews

‘The Hobbit belongs to a very small class of books which have nothing in common save that each admits us to a world of its own. Its place is with Alice and The Wind in the Willows.’ Times Literary Supplement
‘One of the best loved characters in English fiction… a marvellous fantasy adventure’ Daily Mail
‘Finely written saga of dwarves and elves, fearsome goblins and trolls… an exciting epic of travel, magical adventure, working up to a devastating climax’ The Observer

Featured article: Aragorn - a Lord of the Rings character guide


From his time as the ranger Strider to his ascension to King of Gondor, this guide has everything you need to know about the hero Aragorn. Perhaps one of the most mysterious and intriguing characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn is known by many names: Strider, Elessar, Estel, and finally Aragorn II, heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. From a shadowy tracker who mysteriously comes to Frodo's aid to an essential member of the Fellowship of the Ring to the long-awaited king who restores harmony and peace to Middle-earth, Aragorn plays many important roles in the fantasy epic. And he has quite an interesting history.

Featured article Aragorn: a Lord of the Rings character guide
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I have always loved the hobbit. It captured me as a child and that captivation with Tolkien’s world has followed me into adulthood. I loved Andy Serkis as Gollum in the films (and everything else I have ever seen him in) and when he did the Hobbitathon for charity I was over the moon and spent the whole day watching him give his rendition. It was magic. The clamour for him to do an official audiobook reading that could be purchased was massive and I was among the many people interested in such an audiobook.

When I found out that it was actually going to be released, excited is not the word. I was over the moon. Serkis has not disappointed. He is an engaging orator and consistent in his character voices. He is not attempting to mimic others who have played the parts, he is making them his own (with the obvious exception of Sméagol/Gollum who is already his own and much beloved rendition so familiar from the movies). His pace matches the section of the book he is in and what is happening in the story.

Having heard the Rob Inglis version of this (I have the hobbit and the lord of the rings by him) I know which I prefer. Inglis is fine, there are not many things about his reading style to get on the nerves (though his singing of the songs is sometimes a little unclear and irksome) but I definitely prefer Serkis’ rendition. He has brought a freshness to this old favourite story that makes it more vibrant in the mind.

I would be overjoyed if Serkis would do the Lord of the Rings too. I had high hopes for this audiobook and Serkis has not disappointed. His rendition of Riddles in the Dark had my face splitting into a wide grin all the way through, and all my favourite points have been all I could hope them to be.

A favourite, given a new lease of life by a master

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Whilst the hobbit is a classic and needs no review - the reading may need one.
Andy Serkis (Gollum in the films) is a master actor, a wonderful director, and one of the greatest character performers around.
However, his reading skills leave a little to be desired, at least to this listener.
He reads at 100mph an hour, and as a result frequently misses the punctuation, changing the meaning or just leaving the listener gasping for breath whilst he moves to the next section. He also appears to be reading from a device which needs the page turning of term, as he frequently stops as though at the end of the sentence, then reads the last few words and joins them to the next line, leaving this listener trying to reconstruct it in his head whilst trying not to miss the next speed read section.

It is a shame, as he performs great voices throughout, and tries to breathe life into the tale, but for this Hobbit fan he comes up sadly short.

The other version available on Audible is much preferable and recommended over this performance.

A great book but there is a better audio

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Have listened to both versions, Mr Serkis does a good interpretation with probably more voice acting for the different characters than Rob Inglis (who’s version I liked) but I agree with others that the audio mastering wasn’t great with this version - found myself having to turn the volume up and down to keep it at the same level which shouldn’t really be the case. Will get the lotr books if they make a new version but hopefully they will sort out the audio.

Pretty good

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The best of the best. perfection. Serkis brings it to life in a way nobody else could

perfection

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The story is 1 of my favourites, but the narrator has a completely unique way of reading the book that brings all of the characters alive in a way that is impossible when reading yourself...

Fabulous...

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