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  • The Return of the King

  • Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
  • By: J. R. R. Tolkien
  • Narrated by: Rob Inglis
  • Length: 18 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (27,550 ratings)

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The Return of the King

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Rob Inglis
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Publisher's summary

The Return of the King is the towering climax to J. R. R. Tolkien’s trilogy that tells the saga of the hobbits of Middle-earth and the great War of the Rings. In this concluding volume, Frodo and Sam make a terrible journey to the heart of the Land of the Shadow in a final reckoning with the power of Sauron.

In addition to narrating the prose passages, Rob Inglis sings the trilogy’s songs and poems a capella, using melodies composed by Inglis and Claudia Howard, the Recorded Books studio director. This recording also contains Tolkien’s preface to the trilogy, including a prior history of the ring, and shire habitat, history, and folkways.

©1983 Christopher R. Tolkien, Michael H.R.Tolkien, John F.R. Tolkien, and Priscilla M.A.R.Tolkien (P)1990 Recorded Books

Featured Article: The Lord of the Rings—The Essential Guide to the Peoples, Places, and History of Tolkien's Middle-earth


Welcome to Middle-earth, the main continent of Arda and the setting for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a host of other in-universe stories. Middle-earth is a fantastical realm rooted in detailed world-building and mythos that have since gone on to inspire many other fantasy works. Read on for everything you need to know.

Continue Your Journey Through Middle earth

Continue Your Journey
Through Middle-earth

What listeners say about The Return of the King

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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Bias, I liked the Movie and I like the book.

Learned a lot that was keep out of the movies. Enjoyed. 1 2 3 4 😁

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed listening

Enjoyed the book series and the narrator did an excellent job telling the stories. Would listen again

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

What a great listen. The narrator is one of the very best I’ve heard on audible.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well, I’m back.

I trudged through the trilogy, almost hating how Tolkien describes everything, only to be disappointed that other authors don’t do the same. The last line of the book had me at a loss. I’ll be listening to the series again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I do not want this boom to end

I started the Lord of the Rings series by watching the trilogy films years ago. I only started listening to the books last month and wish there was more stories that could be told in the books to keep me from putting it down!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

Excellent narrator. Excellent story. Timeless. A perfect way to read this book. Love it always!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book. pretty good narrator.

Love the book and the story. The narrator can be a little flat during otherwise emotional parts but isn't by any means bad or hard to listen to. My least favorite part is the cover art Amazon put on this to promote the terrible rings of power show.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a must listen

I like the author and the narrator. I like the book and the movie

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just as good today

Timeless classic. Rich world building and masterful storytelling. You'll want to come back again and again.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Incredible

The narration was wonderful and brought this wonder tale to life - well worth the length

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