The Hobbit (Dramatised)

By: J. R. R. Tolkien

Narrated by: Paul Daneman, Anthony Jackson, Heron Carvic

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

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

Hard to hear

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I recommend this audio performance only because there aren't any better alternatives.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The audio is so dramatised that it is hard to hear sometimes and the other noises for dramatic effect are really loud and distracting.

Good dramatised version.

Over all a good dramatized version, some to the music and voice acting, goblins and other creatures sadly are a bit annoying at times and hard to understand.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

This was incredibly fun and enjoyable! I finished Rob Inglis' unabridged reading, which I loved, but still wanted to linger in the world, so I tried this version out. It was fun and I fell in love with Bilbo and the dwarves all over again. I loved the little additions, the atmosphere, Bilbo's constant questions. Too fun! My only issue was the pronunciation of Thorin's name, it threw me off. But I loved it so much I can't deduct any stars. Great great great!

Fantastic and Magical!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This radio play is both fantastic and magical. Its brings Tolkien to life better than the Jackson films!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bilbo and the narrator. They were so full of life!

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

I loved this story and i loved how it was told.

Quaint Old Production of the Hobbit

I gave two stars as it is an awful production by today's standards. The music is loud and grating. The muttering British accents reminded me of the Goon show. The sound effects were downright funny. My dyslexic son and I listened to it in the car and it was difficult to follow. However, if you want to listen to a historic production for nostalgia sake, this suffices. What I loved was the interpretation of the character of Bilbo and how similar that was to the Film.

Great Memories

While the story brought back great memories, I was disappointed in the production. I thought more narration was needed, and the volume of music and some of the character voices made it hard to follow.

music and high pitch voices will drive you nuts

the storyline is fine but the voices and music will drive you bananas. the theme song is accompanied by a kazoo of some sort and mediocre saying. wouldn't be so bad if it didn't play every couple of minutes. the acting would be okay if it wasn't for half the voices are pitched up 2x or 3x to make them sound distinct. just wish I could find the version of The Hobbit and that I listened to when I was a kid on the radio but this isn't it

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!

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.

Agree with others review

Would you try another book from J. R. R. Tolkien and/or the narrator?

I like the voices, but for some reason it does not matches the book reading, it is a dramatized one, and I miss understood so one more I get that I don't get to enjoy again.