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)

Excellence and Competence Bring Satisfaction

J. R. R. Tolkien knew how to tell a good story that, I believe, was meant to be read aloud. In the hands of a competent narrator, Tolkine's words can jump off the page and truly come alive. Like the animator of a cartoon drawing, a good narrator can add touches to the story that go beyond scribbles on a page or text on a screen.

In my book, Rob Inglis is just that kind of narrator. He brings an understanding of the text that is rare to find, and he does a good job with Tolkine's invented languages. His diction is very precise, and every word is clearly delivered. His voice is rich, full and solid.

In this book, as well as Lord of the Rings, there are a number of songs. One reason so few audio book publishers have not recorded these books in full has been the question of how to deal with the songs. Should they just be treated as poetry, or should they be sung. Rob Inglis takes the latter approach. While his singing may not be equal to a great operatic singer, such as Placido Domingo, I believe I can get used to it. I know some reviewers were not big fans of the singing, but I recognize that you can't [lease everyone. I believe that if a narrator is able to sing the songs, let him. If he can't do that, just treat them as poetry. That is why I'm willing to hear him out, and to give this narrator credit for the effort.

In short, I recommend The Hobbit as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. They are all good stories, and if you're looking for quality narration, Rob Inglis delivers.

Splendid!

loved it, finished it in 4 days and will love it for days to come. The narrator was great with many unique voices for each character with a great singing voice.

Fantastic Rob Inglis is the perfect Narrator!

What made the experience of listening to The Hobbit the most enjoyable?

Rob Inglis, I have always loved all Tolkiens' stories but he made it so special, Bravo!

What about Rob Inglis’s performance did you like?

Rob Inglis has such an awesome way of telling the story without "reading" it to you. you become part of the story not just a listener. Im new to Audible and the other book I purchased I later returned because the narrator was just so Blah. I was encouraged to try a different narrator. I was lucky enough to find Rob Inglis.

Wonderful read or listen

What can I say, it was a really good book. Can't wait to watch the movies now. Buy it now

A classic by any other name.

It is interesting to revisit a classic that you read in your youth. To revisit this story, it is easy to see how much of a foundation for ALL fantasy stories this one title is and will always be.

In a day where so few of our younger people read, I feel sad that they miss creating the images n their own mind as this story unscrolls. While the movies are now leaps and bounds ahead of the animated version we saw as kids and were so enthralled by, there is still no substitute for reading it (or listening to it) for yourself.

Wonderful!

A tale no matter how many times read (or seen) grows old! I love the audible version it makes for quite the bedtime story.

Awesome Narration!

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

What did you like best about this story?

Rob Inglis' masterful narration. Brilliant.

What does Rob Inglis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can't even put into words how much he adds to the story.

Heartwarming

So nice to be read to, it was very well read and of course the story is a wonderful classic.

Not really worthy to review The Hobbit...

What did you love best about The Hobbit?

It is great literature. I love the language, the characters and the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bilbo. He is so "cozy" if that can describe a person. He is "homey" yet he has his adventurous streak that he is afraid to let loose. He is also humorous.

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

No.

Any additional comments?

This book is a classic. The literature is excellent. I am certainly not in a positon to critique it only enjoy it. The performance was excellent.

Great book

Loved the book. The narration was good, with the exception of the singing. would recommend