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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)  By  cover art

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Ian Holm,Michael Hordern,Robert Stephens,full cast
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Publisher's summary

With its first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on March 8th, 1981, this dramatised tale of Middle Earth became an instant global classic. It boasts a truly outstanding cast including Ian Holm (as Frodo), Sir Michael Hordern (as Gandalf), Robert Stephens (as Aragorn), Bill Nighy (as Sam Gamgee) and John Le Mesurier (as Bilbo). Brian Sibley's famous adaptation has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm, who now stars as Bilbo in the feature films based on The Lord of the Rings. Part One, The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces us to Frodo Baggins. With his uncle Bilbo having mysteriously disappeared, Frodo finds himself in possession of a simple gold ring that has great and evil power. It is the Ruling Ring, taken long ago from the Dark Lord, Sauron, who now seeks to possess it again. Frodo must do everything he can to prevent this, and with the help of Gandalf the wizard and a band of loyal companions he begins a perilous journey across Middle-earth. Sauron's Black Riders are on their trail as they travel to Rivendell, attempt to cross the snow-swept Misty Mountains and, in desperation, enter the terrifying Mines of Moria.

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

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

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What listeners say about The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great dramatization, but read the book first!

I read The Lord of the Rings twice as a teenager, and watched the movies more than once. When I found this dramatization I thought it would be nice to experience the story again, but in a new way. I was a bit sceptical as I read the reviews, but decided to buy it anyway. And I'm glad I did! I spent most of yesterday with my headphones on, and the story made my Saturday cleaning and laundry quite enjoyable this week.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks and wasn't sure if I'd enjoy a dramatization, but I really did. My boyfriend listened to the beginning of the story with me and was annoyed with how the story wasn't exactly as it is in the book, but I didn't mind. It's a very short version of the story, and they do skip a lot of things that are hard to fit in the "story-told-by-dialogue-and-sounds" style of a dramatization, and for the same reason you miss a lot of details because you can't see anything and no one is explaining what's going on in the action-sequences (but the result of the action is mentioned after by the characters). I still enjoyed it as I could imagine everything based on my memory of the story from the book. I think they did a great job making this, and the narrators/cast are really good.

DON'T buy this if you want the whole book and the whole detailed story, because then you will be disappointed (there are audiobooks available...). Buy this book if you love the story and want to experience it again, but don't mind if it's a short version or that Tom Bombadil is still missing. I loved it, and have already bought Two Towers:-)

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114 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Well done but lacking

I am a fan of the Lord of the Rings series. I have read the books, seen the movies, and bought the T-Shirt. THis audiobook was professionally made, and was an easy listen. It is nice to hear distinct characters in the dramatized versions.

I am disappointed in the this version in the following ways. It is missing a full section with Tom Bombadil. Well, the Movie was missing him too. I guess I was expecting something a little less abridged. There are several specific things lacking in this version that to me, caused me to not buy the remaining books.

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97 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Dramitization

For what it is, it is brilliantly done. I'm just too fond of this story (the whole story) to be fully content with an abridged rendition.

That said, I take less exception to what was cut/changed (text and content-wise) in this version than some of the things done in the 2001 film. One of my favourite moments is the Fords of Bruinen as it was written, and that spirit is kept in this dramatization.

Five stars for dramatization, but only four as 'The Fellowship of the Ring' since it is missing so very much. It seems 'Fellowship' is usually the part of the trilogy that is cut down the most for dramatization.

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64 people found this helpful

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

Worth buying a second time

I already have this dramatisation on CD, but I bought it from Audible so I could listen on my mobile device. It has been welll worth the extra money. The acting is credible, drawing you into the story. Not all the incidents from the books are included, so the plot moves along faster. The songs embedded in the story enrich the performance. Having listened to the whole trilogy on CD, I can thoroughly recommend all three books, though I haven't bought the other two from Audible yet.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

At last, for young kids

My 8 yr-old has bugged me about LoTR, the movies (too scary) and books (high school reading level). Enter the BBC radio plays: an abridged version of the books, chock full of adventure enhanced by the full cast, music, and effects. We listened to all three in the series.

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28 people found this helpful

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

Wonderful

All three of the titles in the trilogy are most excellently performed as a radio drama for the BBC. The actors do a splendid job, the effects are realistic. I felt as is I were watching the performance in my mind. Highly recommend this audio program.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great adaptation for a fan of the book to have

I was nervous about this title when I downloaded it from Audible. As a fan of the books who reads them at least once a year, I can say that this dramatized version was very well done. Yes parts of the books have been removed and certain lines were changed but the performances from the actors help you to forget this. This dramatization is a great way to introduce the story to younger kids who may not want to 'read' a book this long. Worth every penny.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

LOTR

I found listening to this a great way to wind down at the end of the day. Hearing the dramatisation made me have mental pictures of the movies in my head, so it was a great way to feel like I was watching it without having to stay up and watch it in the Dvd player. It has all the major plot lines of the movies, so is very familiar, without being long winded like the books can be.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The LOTR dramatisation

i love this adaptation of the LOTR. all the actors do justice to the characters in this beloved classic. i especially enjoyed the voice of ian holm (who plays bilbo in the movies) giving life to frodo. i highly recommend all three (TLOTR, TTT, and TROTK) dramatisations from BBC.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great for kids!!

I always found tolkien to be a bit hard for kids to grasp. my son, now 8, loves this audio version! its very enjoyable and loses none of the tolkien magic. adults will have a hard time stopping listening as it is very mesmerising and well done.

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15 people found this helpful