The Hobbit

By: J. R. R. Tolkien

Narrated by: Rob Inglis

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all - a treasure-troving dragon named Smaug.

In this fantasy classic, master storyteller J.R.R. Tolkein creates a bewitching world filled with delightful creatures and thrilling dangers. Narrator Rob Inglis will hold listeners of all ages spellbound with his skillful portrayal of hobbits, dwarves, and enchanted beasts.

©1966 J.R.R. Tolkien (P)1991 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Rob Inglis expertly bridges the gap between the whimsical, childlike aspects of Tolkien's fantasy classic and the hints of darker things to come later in The Lord of the Rings. Though content to enjoy his cozy life, cheerful hobbit Mr. Bilbo Baggins agrees to help his wizard friend Gandalf aid a group of dwarves seeking their lost treasure. As their various adventures ensue, Inglis treats listeners to a tour-de-force performance rich in colorful characterizations and several engaging singing performances. This story should be the unquestionable starting point for those venturing into Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Listeners experience a vocal performance that is in turn charming, gripping, a little scary, and always engaging." (AudioFile magazine)

Bilbo and the dwarves

Audio version of classic unparalleled work. I have read it many times before and enjoyed falling back to my familiar hobbit tale by listening to it. A must read for everyone.

Great book.

It explains a lot that happens in later books. I'd recommend it to anyone that would like to read The Lord of the rings trilogy, to read this first. Don't skip it.

Amazing Narrator!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hobbit to be better than the print version?

Yes! The narration was amazing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bilbo because of his character growth.

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

I haven't!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Bilbo saved the dwarfs from the spiders of Murkwood.

good story

good story. narrator was kinda lame. dude's voice cracked more often that a fire. lol

awesome narrator

have always loved JR Tolkien books & this narrator does a exceptional job narrating the books.

Good Audiobook Experience!

Where does The Hobbit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was overall pretty good. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but once the adventure started it was good.

What other book might you compare The Hobbit to and why?

Of books I've read, I'd say Eragon, since it's the only other big fantasy novel I've read before.

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

No, I have not heard his other books, but his performance is quite superb and I've purchased The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring next!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure :)

Any additional comments?

overall a good experience!

A biased review

I admit up front that I have loved this book for a long while, so my review is rather biased.
This is my favorite audio book to listen to when I'm in need of re-listening to a favorite. I'm not thrilled with the narrator and how he makes some of the characters sound, and the singing parts are a bit painful. Also the voice is very slow paced, yet not enough pause between sentences or momentous events. However I'm extremely picky and think this narrator is still better than many.
If you haven't already read the story I'm not sure how to explain it to you. It's more lighthearted than the Lord of the Rings trilogy, much less serious in many ways. It's the book equivalent of comfort food.

Excellent book that is wonderfully recorded!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hobbit to be better than the print version?

I don't know if I could say that the audio is "better" than a print version, but it is much more convenient. I love reading an actual book, but this audio book is narrated so well that it is easy to listen to for hours!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hobbit?

There are too many, but probably Bilbo's first confrontation with Smaug, the dragon.

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

Yes, I have all of the Lord of the Rings audiobooks on CD's, and I decided to buy this one off of audible to make it easier to listen to. Rob Inglis is a masterful performer, and he does an excellent job "The Hobbit" as well as all of the "Lord of the Rings" books!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is a great book that made me both laugh and cry. I think the mark of a truly great book is that when you have finished reading it (or listening to it), you miss the characters. That is indeed what happened to me after reading this book, and it is probably the reason that I have the audio version as well!

Entertaining, but...

If you could sum up The Hobbit in three words, what would they be?

Good, clean, fun.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Gandalf. I just love his relationship to Bilbo in this book. How he always defends him to Thorin and swoops in at just the right moment to save the day.

Which character – as performed by Rob Inglis – was your favorite?

Gandalf again. I felt like I was listening to Ian McKellen speak and I love that they both seem to capture the character in the same way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was particularly moved when Bilbo helps the dwarves escape and afterwards their respect for him grows. He finally gets appreciated.

Any additional comments?

The only thing I didn't like was Rob Inglis' performance as Gollum. I just had a hard time taking it seriously. It could be that Andy Serkis' performance in all the movies is just so much more, or it could be that Rob Inglis made Gollum sound like an idiot. Either way, I just wasn't feeling it. But that is really my only complaint. The story is excellent and reaches across many different age groups, so anyone can enjoy it. I had a great time going there and back again with Bilbo.

Great story

I've loved this story since I was a kid. It just never gets old. As amazing as the CGI is of the movies. They just don't compare to the written story