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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: The Best Fantasy Audiobooks to Take You Out of This World


Few audiobooks provide as much of an escape as those in the fantasy genre. Each of the best introduces us to an entirely new world (or a new version of this one), a diverse cast of complexly constructed characters, and a story so mesmerizing we’re reluctant to return to real life. But because the genre is so full of talent, it can be difficult to know what to listen to next. Look no further than this list of the best fantasy audiobooks to get you started.

Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

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What listeners say about The Hobbit

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    53,807
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  • 3 Stars
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Loved it!

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

The great beginning

What did you like best about this story?

The narration is incredible. I couldn't stop listening

What about Rob Inglis’s performance did you like?

His organized voices. With so many dwarves he did a great job!

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

I laughed a few times and purchased the first of The Lord of the rings

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5 stars to rule them all

I really couldn't ask for a better classic series. The performance is also so well done, specifically the songs that are in the books are beautifully sung, and a lot of them give me chills; especially the elves' song when they release the barrels down the river. It's so nice to have heard them sung instead of just reading them. You owe it to yourself to experience these books. Don't forget the Silmarillion as well, which is also such a beautiful book. I listen to them all over and over again, despite my decent sized library.

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best narrator EVER

the best narrator I could imagine for this book, sang the songs perfectly, and just generally gave me the complete vibe needed for this tale.

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Better than the movie- great book!

Loved the book, the narrator brought the characters to life. Kept coming back for more until the end.

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Wonderfully Done!!!

This was amazing! Rob Ingis does a good job with the narration and I liked the way that he actually sang the songs (I have had some that have not).

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Thoroughly enjoyable

Enjoyed the whole book can't wait to try The Lord of the Rings trilogy Thank you

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it's great even if you've read the book!

I reread this book often and it is very well read by Rob Inglis! I really enjoyed it and I'm sure you will to!

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Narrator breathing

The breathing was very annoying and a bit hard to enjoy when he sang

Still a good story

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Great story!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It really kept me engaged. I drive great distances every day at work and this was particularly hard to turn off when I got to where I was going. I also found the narrator was great at the art of story telling. Good listen!

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Great narration

Rob Inglis does a wonderful job on this fantastic tale. There is comedy, adventure, sorrow, joy and life lessons. We love Jim Dale as the narrator for Harry Potter, it’s hard to find someone as talented but we enjoyed the Hobbit so much we started on the Fellowship of the Rings also narrated by Inglis

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