Why it's essential
Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the films, brings his incredible talent and astounding vocal range to Tolkien’s classic adventure.
Featured in The Audible Essentials Top 100.
What is The Hobbit about?
The Hobbit opens on protagonist Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant homebody of a hero who is yanked from the comforts of his cozy Hobbit-hole when wise, genial wizard Gandalf recruits him for a most unexpected journey. Accompanying a party of 13 dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland, Bilbo proves time and again to be far pluckier than he believes himself to be as he faces down creatures ranging from trolls to the formidable dragon Smaug.
Editor's review
Editor Alanna is a proponent of thoughtful storytelling of all kinds—from vulnerable, author-narrated memoir to works of horror and sci-fi that meditate on the human condition.
I was still in diapers when the bar for fantasy world-building was set unreasonably high. My mother, who had been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work since she herself was a child, passed along her fandom to me. To this day, that sense of awe hasn’t faded, and even as an adult, I find myself wide-eyed and wonderstruck by the world that Tolkien created—dragons and dwarves and hobbits and elves and wizards, dark forces unseen and simple goodness unparalleled, a good old-fashioned tale of whimsy and adventure that completely redefined what it meant to tell a story.
But when Tolkien wrote The Hobbit back in the 1930s, he did not set out to create a work explicitly for children. Rather, he was crafting a fairy story, one rooted in his fascination with language, mythology, and history, that allowed him to build out a lore of his own. Nevertheless, it captivated readers young and old and has since become both a staple of kidlit and a foundational work in the overarching fantasy genre. Many stories are hailed as timeless, as enjoyable for little ones as they are for those several generations ahead, but few are as truly universal as this one, an accessible entry into a fully realized world in which you may wade as shallowly as you like or dive deep into ages of lore and backstory.
At its core, the story, following a most unlikely hero in the reserved, slightly curmudgeonly Bilbo Baggins, is a quest not just to slay the dragon and conquer evil but a journey into one’s own. Before Gandalf’s intervention, Bilbo has no inclination of taking on such an exploit, preferring instead the comforts and safeties of the only home he’s known. Hobbits, seemingly representative of England’s common countryfolk, are not heralded for theatrical acts of daring or brawn. But what Bilbo does have, in spades, is heart, goodness, and the capacity for tremendous courage, given the opportunity. Over the course of the story, we listen as Bilbo transforms into the confident hero of legend, the kind of pathfinding traveler that would write of his ventures, which in and of themselves create his memoir and center the narrative of The Hobbit. Bilbo is such a beloved figure in literature because he is all of us—as a timid, cautious child, his capers rang as evidence that I, too, had something to offer.
While there’s a high chance you’re already familiar with The Hobbit, you haven’t heard it quite like this. Andy Serkis, who gave a legendary mo-cap performance as Gollum in Peter Jackson’s Lord the Rings film trilogy, returns to Middle-earth in this triumphant recording. Put simply, Serkis’s performance is nothing short of magnificent. Yes, his character work is undeniably spectacular, a detail that will surprise no one who has ever seen Serkis build from the ground up in film and on television. Take, for instance, his construction of Gollum on screen, a role he reprises with vigor in this audio edition of The Hobbit. Flittering between a guttural, phlegmy croak and moments of softer, quickened, almost overwrought vocals, Serkis commands both pity and unease. It is a singular performance, one inextricable from the character, and it’s a feat Serkis proves himself capable of time and again in his performance of The Hobbit.
Yet Serkis’s range extends far beyond his well-established skills of varying voice, accent, tone, and delivery. His narration itself infuses this familiar tale with so much magic, so much clear adoration and affection, that to hear him unravel it is as if hearing the story for the very first time. His performance rings almost nostalgic, reminiscent of a parent with a particular gift for making the words come alive. As his voice lilted through the story’s songs and rhymes, ringing with warmth and good humor, and escalating during the more treacherous moments in Bilbo’s adventure, I was transported back to my adolescence, my inner child’s imagination stoked anew.
Whether it’s your first time visiting Middle-earth or you’re a veritable armchair Tolkien scholar, the journey there (and back again) is all the more memorable with Serkis by your side.
Did you know?
The story came to Professor Tolkien in a fit of inspiration. He scribbled the first line of the novel ("In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.") on scrap paper while marking exams in the early 1930s.
The publication history of The Hobbit is a rather unconventional one, as Tolkien never personally sent the manuscript directly to a publisher. Rather, after lending his finished draft to some trusted friends and readers to review, the novel made its way to an employee of British publishing house George Allen & Unwin, who thought it impressive enough to pass along to founder Stanley Unwin. Unwin in turn handed The Hobbit off to his 10-year-old son Rayner, who gave the book a glowing review and his seal of approval. The novel was published shortly thereafter.
Luckily for audiences, Tolkien wasn’t done exploring the world of Middle-earth after the publication of The Hobbit. Following the success of the novel, George Allen & Unwin requested Tolkien pen a sequel likewise centered on Hobbits, an ask that resulted in the triumphant saga of The Lord of the Rings. To align the canon of the two and better establish the shared setting’s history and mythos, Tolkien needed to revise The Hobbit, and a second edition was released in 1951.
What listeners said
"I read this as a child and wanted to revisit it now as an adult and I'm so glad I did. I had forgotten a lot of the details and the depth of the story. It was nice to listen to it this time because it gave it a different perspective. What a classic, what a treasure." —Dara, Audible Listener
"I don’t even need to finish this to give it 5 stars. Andy Serkis is AMAZING, but that wasn’t ever really in question. What I love is that he really acts out the actions. Like he put his heart into—which, again, isn’t surprising. We need the whole trilogy from him. Not that I don’t love the originals, but this is just wonderful. I loved loved loved it." —Aleja, Audible Listener
"I am so excited to see unabridged versions of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy made available on Audible. Andy Serkis is simply the best narrator ever. He gives each character a unique voice and makes listening to these classics a delight!
All 4 books should be considered 'must reads' for everyone." —Krista, Audible Listener
Quotes from The Hobbit
"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
"'You have nice manners for a thief and a liar,' said the dragon."
"There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go."
"It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait."
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About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892. After serving in the First World War, he became best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, selling 150 million copies in more than 40 languages worldwide. Awarded the CBE and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, he died in 1973 at the age of 81.
About the performers
Andy Serkis is a multi-talented actor, director, and motion capture pioneer. He has breathed life into iconic characters such as Gollum in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes series. His groundbreaking work in motion capture technology has revolutionized the film industry. Serkis continues to captivate audiences with his unparalleled commitment to his craft and his ability to bring depth and humanity to every role he undertakes.
