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)

40 years and never gets old

I was fortunate to spend six months in the depths of the inklings city when i was 22 and have enjoyed all of their works since ....

A delight to jump back into the world of Tolkien!

Would you listen to The Hobbit again? Why?

Yes because I was sad when the journey ended.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bilbo, without a doubt, because he did what he had to do not what was easy or comfortable for him.

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

No I haven't. I hope he does more. He did a great job.

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

Just when it ended. Like Bilbo, i was longing for more after it was over. It is a great story.

Cult Classic

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

This was my first, and I loved it.

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

I loved the description of battles.

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

No

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

A big journey by a little hobbit

Any additional comments?

No

An Expected Delight.

What did you love best about The Hobbit?

When the first movie came out, I decided to buy the Hobbit from Audible; I'd already heard and enjoyed it countless times, but I thought that now was the time to keep it. The plot is perfect, the characters immortal and the narration beyond compare.

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

The night where Bilbo and the Dwarves were staying in Beorn's house and they began singing that song. Inglis's perfomance was particularly spectacular there.

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

Inglis does an excellent job of giving each of the characters their own voice; you can tell Bilbo from Smaug, and Gandalf from Gollum without thinking twice. He is perfect

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

I always laugh whenever I hear the first song the Dwarves sing; "Chip the glasses and crack the plates...", and so on.

Any additional comments?

You can't have enough with just the Hobbit. The narration of LOTR MUST come next.

Still a Masterpiece

I have always loved this book and every time I read it it brings back such a sense of fun adventure! this audiobook was a great experience. Rob Inglis does such an amazing job he makes it seem like there are 3-4 other actors! his performances of the songs is just how you picture them in your head! love this book! if you have never read this before you are in for a treat. If you have I recommend listening to it as the performance is 2nd to none.

Can't go wrong with Tolkien

This book is more of a children's story than Lord of the Rings, which appeals to me more. That probably says something about me. That being said when making one's way through this story one can tell that Tolkien had some feelings about war, and conflict from his personal life. This is just one of those classic "must reads" when it comes right down to it. The narration in this version is great. Rob Inglis is really a bunch of fun to listen to.

Reader

The reader is great and really immersed you into the story. He sings every song and has great voices for all the characters. And, of course, The Hobbit is a classic. Everyone should read it.

Not the best, but essential

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

Pretty good.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gandalf - his powers and full story have always been a mystery and are quite interesting.

What three words best describe Rob Inglis’s performance?

British Slow So-so

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

Actually - after reading this a second time I realize how annoying dwarves are, which makes Bilbo the Hobbit all the more likeable.

Any additional comments?

Great story and good performance. I could hear Rob Inglis breathing quite a bit which was distracting at times.

Overall very good!

I did nor expect a good singer, and the story and the voices were very well done.

Like grandpa is reading you a story

There is a certain lul you get into with this book
but the singing sheesh