• 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 (27,310 ratings)

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The Return of the King  By  cover art

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: Who Is J.R.R. Tolkien? Celebrating the Incomparable Creator of Middle-earth


J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings epic, has an annual day devoted to reveling in his books. Established by the Tolkien Society in 2003. Tolkien Reading Day is held each year on March 25—the date marking the downfall of the terrible Dark Lord, Sauron (the Lord of the Rings). Before you dive into re-listening to your favorite passages, why not take learn more about the writer, scholar, linguist, and visionary behind the fantasy phenomenon?

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What listeners say about The Return of the King

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always good

I love this series and never tire of revisiting the world of middle earth and its inhabitants

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AMAZING

This book is amazing,so is the narrator. rob Inglis is the best narrator ever!!!!!

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The Finale

What can't beat? a dead horse that is buried 6 feet under. the end cap to a series and a world that will never be rivaled.

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Return of the King of Fantacy!

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Fantastic, wonderful, perfect! Need more accolades listen for yourself.

Seriously, I am a life long fan of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. I have read them in text 6 or 7 times and I am VERY happy I listened to this version. Tolkien is not on THE master of story telling but a king himself with his flowing descriptive prose. Robert Inglis does an absolutely superb job with the naration and where you may not agree with his choice of tone or timber for a specific character you become so lost in the story you accept them as real and he becomes those characters.

I recommend this book and this series over anything in the Audible Library. I did not want it to ever end! And i know i will listen again!

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Wow! Awesome!

The best ending to the best three books on earth! Love the book! Love the imagination!

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a great read!

Narrator is excellent! I enjoyed the Appendix A at the end. A superb book. I recommend

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Oh great Sadness, the Story is over

What a book, what an ending! I read LOTR 18 times on paper.... but audio?! i now enjoyed the appendix and forward that i never read before.... alas... it to is blissful and grievous...

farewell!

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Best version

This audio version with Rob Inglis is the best. I appreciate most that Rob actually sings the songs. Reading the books when I was younger, there were so many songs and I never really understood how they should sound. Hearing the lyrics in sing is like discovering something new. These are classic books and a must read, very enjoyable and well written. I recommend also listening to them, the Rob Inglis version.

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Fantastic book to listen to!

I have listened to these books for a long time, and I will do it again!

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5 star anyone who says else wise: you=non-human

This is a really good book. I love the series. Must listen for all LoTR fans or beginners to the series alike.

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