Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Farmer Giles of Ham  By  cover art

Farmer Giles of Ham

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.06

Buy for $13.06

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Farmer Giles of Ham is one of Tolkien's most popular stories, full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. He 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!
©1949 The J.R.R. Tolkien Copyright Trust (P)1999 HarperCollins UK

Featured Article: Sauron—A Lord of the Rings Character Guide


Mairon, Annatar, the Necromancer—the evil Dark Lord Sauron has gone by many names. But who is he, really, and what is his impact on J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth? Sauron is the trilogy's primary antagonist and the one who forged the One Ring to Rule Them All in the fires of Mount Doom. Sauron is storied throughout Tolkien’s lore and mythos. Here's what we know about the powerful and evil Sauron—his character, his history, his powers, and more.

Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

What listeners say about Farmer Giles of Ham

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    539
  • 4 Stars
    115
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    530
  • 4 Stars
    48
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    459
  • 4 Stars
    101
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Farmer to King

Would you consider the audio edition of Farmer Giles of Ham to be better than the print version?

It is an enjoyable listen that goes well with the print version.

Have you listened to any of Derek Jacobi’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Derek Jacobi is excellent once again. Children will be able to follow along easily and perhaps even take more of the story in as a result of his narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it in one sitting as the book is full of Tolkien 's humour and is well narrated and easy to listen to.

Any additional comments?

Children and adults alike, should enjoy this Tolkien adventure with a deadly dragon, a dog who keeps crying help and a farmer who becomes a king.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Little Story

This is a brilliant little story. It's witty and fun, clever and comical, not at all obvious and, as all Tolkien's works do, has a great and timeless moral to the story. It is also brilliantly delivered.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Simply Wonderful Story

Loved it! Hard to put down... though my teen and tween children didn't care for it quite so much.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent story by tolkien!

read by derek Jacoby too! this story shows how great tolkien's writing was. even not as lotr!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

worth a credit

This is an absolute classic fantasy tale and the Accents used in the narration or on point.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

So so good, I love this clever and funny book! Great story, will listen to again

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A funny and enjoyable story!

I enjoyed listening to this silly, ridiculous and delightful tale by Tolkien. It's easy to get through in a day and it's a nice break between some of the heavy stuff I've been into lately. A nice refresher before I dive back into darker realms. This little story will make Tolkien fans smile!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tolkien children stories are the best.

Wonderful story for all the Tolkien fans. I love the fact that these stories are simple and I think geared for children. The narration is wonderful and not to be missed. I love the fact the the farmer lets the dragon live and that he becomes the leader of the town.
Listen and enjoy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!

Really enjoyed this historically accurate tale of a farmer and his dog. Had me smiling the whole time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent short story by J. R. R. Tolkien.

This is an enjoyable yarn by a master storyteller. It is read by a very good narrator. I highly recommend it to every fan of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!