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The Hobbit (Dramatised)  By  cover art

The Hobbit (Dramatised)

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Paul Daneman,Anthony Jackson,Heron Carvic
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Publisher's summary

The radio dramatisation of The Hobbit became a classic when it was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1968 and it continues to delight today.

Tolkien's famous saga, the prelude to the Lord of the Rings, has all the ingredients of fantasy and adventure: dwarves, elves, goblins and trolls, a fearsome dragon, a great wizard, a perilous quest, and a dramatic climax. At the centre is the unsuspecting hero Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving unambitious Hobbit who is suddenly thrust into the biggest, indeed the only adventure of his life.

©2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd trading as BBC Studios (P)2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd trading as BBC Studios

Featured Article: Galadriel—A Lord of the Rings Character Guide


Galadriel is one of the most significant characters both in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and the wide history of Middle-earth more generally. If you've listened to The Lord of the Rings or seen any of the film adaptations, then you're likely well aware of who Galadriel is. But what, exactly, makes her so important? What is her history? This character guide is here to answer all of your questions about the powerful Elf Galadriel, the Lady of Lórien.

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What listeners say about The Hobbit (Dramatised)

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Takes a little getting used to

It took me awhile to get used to "dramatised" and when I did, I decided I didn't like it. Don't get me wrong - it was done well, and was entertaining; but i found dramatization draining on my imagination. After awhile, I was overwhelmed with drama and couldn't keep up with the voices and images.

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

An Old Favourite

I was given this book to read as a child and have loved it ever since. (I'm now over 40). The style of the dramatisation is a little bit dated and I find the music grates a bit on my ear but it does add to the atmosphere. I have listened to it three times since I bought it this week! As with any abridgement, one can always be disappointed about what was left out and what was retained from the original book but the spirit of the story is still there. The actors are very wholehearted about the project. The book was aimed at children and I think they will love this although it does get a bit scary at times!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly surprised!

"the Hobbit" was my first "Dramatized" listen, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. I usually prefer to listen to unabridged books only, however, I desided to give this one a try, and I loved it. I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to have this played to her. I would strongly recomend this audio to families on road trips, and any fans of J.R.R. Tolkian.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I dislike this style

I know I like this book because I’ve read it before, but trying to listen to this version was awful.
They were talking over each other and the music in the background was too loud.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • FP
  • 11-10-19

Hard to make any sense of the story

Stopped after 30 min. My son and I had no idea who the characters were, where they were or what was happening. Bery little narration. The sounds are messy, volume is uneven and the dialogue is a collection of near gibberish overlapped with sounds and effects.

Would not recommend.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Revisiting a favorite from my childhood.

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

I first experienced this story on the radio in 1977, over NPR. They played it in half hour installments and my sister and I got to listen in my parents bedroom with a big bowl of popcorn. I loved the vivid mental images created by the actors readings... and the music is just as folksy and wonderful as I remembered. It will ALWAYS be my favorite way to experience "The Hobbit."

What did you like best about this story?

The characters voices are just as I imagined

Which scene was your favorite?

I LOVE Bilbo's scene with Smaug.

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

I like spacing it into 30 minute sections.

Any additional comments?

Get it. You won't regret it. BBC BRILLIANCE.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Presentation of a Classic!

This was the first Tolkien story that I read, and I was captivated by it, long before I read the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy. This audio dramatization has become a classic in its own right, and I enjoy listening to it frequently. As a dramatization, I prefer it to a full-length audio presentation of the original. "The Hobbit," either in book or this audio format, is my favorite way to suggest an introduction to Tolkien to people who are unfamiliar with his work, or who say they don't like fantasy. This dramatization catches the spirit of the original and I highly recommend it.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

Listening to this version of "The Hobbit" really does give you a sense of how people read, and or thought about "The Hobbit" during the time it was recorded. It not only is interesting as a historical must-have for any LOTR fan, but they do a really upstanding job dramatizing it. This is the kind of thing I will keep on my external hard-drive no matter how many computers I go through.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Nicely Dramatised

I've read this book many time since 1969 when I was about 13 and it remains one of my favorite books. While I prefer the unabridged version, this is nicely done. The character voices and the pace is good. Occasionally there is a little too much going on in the background, but still very enjoyable.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

wendygai

this is a jolly romp and great fun t listen to. 8year old nephew found the many songs a bit too much, but i loved it

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6 people found this helpful