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The Hobbit
 
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The Hobbit [Audio Download]

by J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Martin Shaw (Narrator)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (408 customer reviews)
List Price: £20.01
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Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £5.99   -- --
Hardcover, Special Edition £5.99   -- --
Paperback £4.53   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook, Unabridged £17.50   -- --
Unknown Binding --   -- --
Audio Download, Abridged £10.49 or Free with Audible.co.uk 30-day free trial

Product details

  • Audio Download
  • Listening Length: 6 hours
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Abridged
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
  • Audible Release Date: 11 Oct 2005
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B002SQD0EW
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (408 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out onto the floor when he casught a sudden thin ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug's left eye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance!

Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.

©1937, 1951, 1966, 1978 George Allen and Unwin (Publishers) Ltd.; (P)1993 HarperCollins UK
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
102 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I decided to invest in this classic but I wasn't sure which edition to buy; the boxed set or the one book. I love hardback books, especially slightly oversized and I'm glad I decided to buy this one. The dust cover advertises the beautiful illustrations inside. It also has embossed gold foil writing and at the top and bottom the foil backed Runes. The bottle green hardback is gold embossed on the spine, and depicts in gold the Smaug (dragon) on the front. Inside you will find at the front Thror's map and at the back a map of Wilderland, to guide you through the journey of the heroes, whilst reading the book.

The pages are generously sized, clear and beautifully illustrated with Alan Lee's drawings in pencil and full colour throughout (I wish it had the old tissue paper covering the illustrations of bygone days!). There is also a Lord of the Rings edition in the same format. It is beneficial to read the Hobbit before the Lord of the Rings.

The Hobbit describes the adventures of a friendly, roughly 3 foot 6 hobbit called Bilbo. He is volunteered into an adventure beyond the scope of most hobbit's lives by a kindly old family friend, Gandalf the wizard. His journey is also initiated and accompanied by fourteen dwarves. Bilbo's contract is to steal the treasure back for the dwarves, stolen and held by Smaug the Magnificent. Smaug is a large and very perilous dragon. Bilbo even surprises himself by becoming a hero, despite his slight size. This is an enchanting book; Tolkien has a rare gift in creating books which capture the imagination of any age. It is beautifully written, comical, imagination stretching but with the skillfulness of convincing the reader that the story is factual and passing over a great empathy, tugging at the reader's heartstrings over the adventure's endearing characters. A must read book.

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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As an avid fan of the Hobbit, I jumped at the chance to own a copy of the audio CD once I had finished the book. I found it very appealing, a perfect way to unwind after a long day.
Younger listeners may be put off because it is a fairly old production, recorded in the 1960's. I can assure you it is as fine a telling of the story as any modern version.
My one complaint is that some the voices for the characters, especially the Eagles and Wargs, are a little over the top. This distracted from the story a little as it was hard to take them seriously when they sound like they have all had a good dose of helium!
Other that this one minor flaw it is, in my opinion, a very good buy.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
A simple pleasure 2 Dec 2009
Format:Audio CD
I was given a copy of this recording as a child and recently re-purchased on a whim of nostalgia. It is simply perfect. The piece starts (as it continues) with a wonderful little dialogue between the narrator and Bilbo (as Mr. Baggins continually interrupts), and this kind of twee charm pervades the whole recording. The voices are wonderful - Thorin and Gollum my favourites - (if a little biased towards the Welsh), and whilst the pronounciation is never purist-Tolkien (Ghan-dahlf, being a particular amusement), the whole piece is presented with such love and care that I can't help but praise it.

This isn't bombastic Jackson, or epic adventure, but for all that it is much more faithful to Tolkien. It is a true children's tale, and very, very English.

Buy now, listen repeatedly, love forever. Honestly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the All-time Classics
I loved it as a ten-year-old, and with the trailer for Peter Jackson's film having got me all excited, I decided to re-read this charming classic, and came to the conclusion that I... Read more
Published 5 days ago by R. Morley
The Hobbit
An incredible book. The language is enchanting and the story is compelling. In the beginning I was a bit worried about the length of the book, but Tolkien has written the story of... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Duane
Super Enjoyable!
I should have read The Hobbit a long time ago. I read Lord of the Rings years ago and really enjoyed it but it was as gloriously dark, intense and heart breaking as everyone knows... Read more
Published 29 days ago by Mrs. S. Thiart
NOT VERY GOOD BBC RADIO DRAMATISATION!!!!!
this audio book has had very good reviews but i found it very boring indeed. i love radio dramas but this has to be the worst radio drama i have ever heard!!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Julian Marsh
Excellent story, great edition
The story as we all know/should know is brilliant so I wont go into that here. The edition is also very good, it's just the right size - not annoyingly oversized. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Student120
Excellent
Excellent - I hadn't read this since I was a child (long, long time ago !) when I thought it was boring but found it fascinating, interesting, enthralling. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sallyrob
maggie48
Already own this in book form but wanted to re-read it in kindle form, which I much enjoyed. My hardback book is very small print and it is much easier on the eyes in larger text... Read more
Published 1 month ago by maggie48
The Hobbit
WOW WOW WOW this book is so cool! Try the sample and if you like it, buy it! GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY!
P. Read more
Published 1 month ago by MR T P J G PHILPOTT
Fantastic!
Great communication and item as described.The book is a pop up that tells the story through little inserts built into the pages. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Fl Domkowicz
Hobbit
This is a fantastic book which I haven't finished yet but if it's like all his others books it is not going to disappoint
Published 1 month ago by sheila
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