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The Hobbit  By  cover art

The Hobbit

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Rob Inglis
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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)

Featured Article: Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck—A Lord of the Rings Character Guide


Whether you're a longtime fan of the books, a lover of the movies, or totally new to The Lord of the Rings, it's likely you've got some questions about the major characters. One of the three Hobbits who set out from the Shire alongside Frodo, Merry comes into his own during the War of the Ring and plays a small but essential part in the larger story. Merry, like his dear friend and comrade Pippin, is proof that no one is ever too small to change the world.

Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

What listeners say about The Hobbit

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    53,795
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    8,189
  • 3 Stars
    1,966
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Performance
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  • 3 Stars
    2,237
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    477
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Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    49,134
  • 4 Stars
    6,209
  • 3 Stars
    1,679
  • 2 Stars
    353
  • 1 Stars
    310

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Timeless Story

What did you love best about The Hobbit?

I loved hearing about Bilbo's adventures.

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

When the dragon died

What about Rob Inglis’s performance did you like?

He was able to perform each character differently. Even when there were songs, he sang them based on the character. Rob Inglis has a great vioce!

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

I enjoyed this book during my drives to and from work.

Any additional comments?

Now, I can watch the movie!!!

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  • Overall
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Greatest so far!

The story got so fantastic and amazing I wasn't able to put it down! I had my phone playing the story day and day out!

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Best Narrator ever

Rob Inglis takes a wonderful story and makes it a full experience. From voices to song he brings you into the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it

Perfect Book! Thank you Audible! Best Audible I ever heard! You don't need to fix anything in this Audible!

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This clears a high bar

This is my single favorite book in the world, and has been for nearly fifty years. I have read and re-read the book more times than I can count.. I approached the audiobook with a degree of trepidation, but the reader's treatment of this masterpiece is everything John Ronald might have hoped for.

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Amazing narration!!

I loved listening to this story so much. The narrator used so many voices. Each troll seemed to have their own voice. I couldn’t stop listening. I can’t wait to hear more stories red by Rob Inglis.

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Too many years wasted

My son and his friends have enjoyed this story for more than 30 yrs. I'm thankful I finally gave into my curiosity. A coworker recently purchased the ring, Precious. I now know how it came to be. Excellent narration!

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Great performance but...

I loved the everything about the reading expect Smug. The reading of Smug, I felt took away a lot of the dragon’s fear.

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Perfection

Love, love, loved this audio book! This is my favorite story and the narrator was awesome!

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A classic book read by a classic performer

Really, this book is a joy to listen to as read by Rob Inglis. I would recommend reading the book first so you come up with your own voices though as that was one of my favorite parts growing up reading The Hobbit.

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