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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)

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What listeners say about The Hobbit

Average customer ratings
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  • 3 Stars
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Loved it!!

Loved this performance of the Hobbit!! Can’t wait to start the next book. So thankful for recorded books.

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Excellent!

Great story of course. Perfect narrator for the story.

He did a great job on all the characters including Gollum.

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Great story, poor narration

I really enjoyed the story, as I knew I would because I had read the book several years ago. However, the narrator was quite boring. I found that at some times I wasn't really listening to the story because the narrator's voice had made me lose interest.

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recommended

I liked it. Although the movies were better. straightforward and fun. :) I would recommend it.

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very much enjoyed this book would recommend it to

if you love stories highly suggest this one its part of the trilogy and follows into the Lord of the Rings

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One of the best Narrations Ever

Would you listen to The Hobbit again? Why?

This is a classic story with vivid imagery, fantastical realms and plausible events. The story is wonderful, full of adventure and action - and even though I listened to it after the Lord of the Rings, it was wonderful to see Bilbo's origins. A really, really good story, great for kids and adults.

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

The songs from the dwarfs are wonderful, and Rob gives many characters their own voice, separate and distinct.

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

I could have - but it is quite long!

Any additional comments?

A must for preteens and teens, wonderful for adults who never read it before (like me!).

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The Hobbit:Fantastic since I read it 30 years ago.

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

Listening to the book was a fun experience. The reader really brought The Hobbit to life.

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

Author Terry Brooks is the best comparison I can make.

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

I loved all of the characters.

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

They made the film. A tag line I would use is, experience Tolkien in another adventurous form the audible book.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed listening to The Hobbit that I'm going to buy the rest of the audible books from the trilogy.

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Da hobbit

The hobbit was one of the best books I have ever read it was amazing and I like it :) x

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Hobbit

Excellent on all counts!
Enjoyed very much. The narrator is perfect for this book. Will listen to more of same.

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Wonderfully entertaining!

An amazing classic with an equally amazing performance. I didn't realize that many of the P. Jackson films' actors took queues from Rob Inglis's performance in this audio book. Truly an enjoyable experience. Cheers.

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