The Hobbit (BBC Radio Presents; 5 CDs) [Abridged] [Audio CD]

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Dramatization (Reader)

Book Description

Series: J.R.R. Tolkien | Publication Date: November 10, 1997

Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort who lives in a cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon--and rather unwanted. So when the wizard of Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he's not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon-fire alone and unaided.



J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless and beloved tale is presented in a stunning dramatization that resounds with all the excitement of a theater performance--and all the charm of a vintage radio show. Originally conceived for BBC broadcast and produced by the world's foremost creators of radio entertainment, this lavish production melds a full cast with stirring music and sound effects to bring this magnificent classic to life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort who lives in a cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon--and rather unwanted. So when the wizard of Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he's not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon-fire alone and unaided.



J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless and beloved tale is presented in a stunning dramatization that resounds with all the excitement of a theater performance--and all the charm of a vintage radio show. Originally conceived for BBC broadcast and produced by the world's foremost creators of radio entertainment, this lavish production melds a full cast with stirring music and sound effects to bring this magnificent classic to life.

About the Author

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa. After serving in the First World War, he embarked upon a distinguished academic career and was recognized as one of the finest philologists in the world. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford, a fellow of Pembroke College, and a fellow of Merton College until his retirement in 1959. He is, however, beloved throughout the world as the creator of Middle-earth and author of such classic works as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He died on September 2, 1973, at the age of 81.


From the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Random House Audio; abridged edition (November 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553455621
• ISBN-13: 978-0553455625
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,367,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Books on CD > Authors, A-Z > ( T ) > Tolkien, J.R.R.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best, but still enjoyable, May 25, 2005

By 

Mary Jo Sminkey "dog trainer and web programmer" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Hobbit (BBC Radio Presents; 5 CDs) (Audio CD)

I greatly enjoyed the BBC presentation of Lord of the Rings, so figured I'd buy this one as well. Sadly, it is not nearly as good. The sound effects are painful to listen to at times, pronounciation is hard to follow and often incorrect, and the voice of the characters can sometimes be hard to follow. Gandalf for instance does not at all sound like I would expect him to! The way Bilbo interjects comments during parts of the narration seems a bit odd as well, but I did think the actor did a nice job with him at least. I think someone not familiar with the book would have a very hard time following the story, but for Tolkien fans, it's harmless fun at least.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audio masterpiece.., April 25, 2000

By 

Charles Pinney (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hobbit (BBC Radio Presents; 5 CDs) (Audio CD)

Having just purchased both BBC productions of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", I've decided to write a quick review.

First off, "The Hobbit" is the classic story of Bilbo Baggins' adventure across Middle-earth to help recover the dwarves gold, and defeat the evil dragon Smaug.

If you live and breath hobbits, you can't go wrong with this audiobook. It comes in a green slipcase, containing a hardback (almost book-like) holder of five compact discs. A booklet containing all the characters, production cast, and track titles is included. Also in the set is a fold out map of Middle-earth.

The production itself, is a lot of fun to listen to. The English actors are great, the music is superb. Overall this is a great item for any Tolkien lover, sure to bring joy and put a smile of your face for a long time to come.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I have ever read, March 3, 2000

By 

Eric (Charlotte, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hobbit (BBC Radio Presents; 5 CDs) (Audio CD)

This is the best book i have ever read. The ultimat best characters. An unraveling plot. Unending suspence. The constant battle between good and evil. Dwarfs, Hobbits, Goblins, Eagles, Ravens, Trolls, and wizards make up the wide variety of characters in The Hobbit. Magic, strategy, witts, and will are all forces in the outcome of an infinatly long and strenuous adventure. This is a MUST read. Buy it, borrow it, just get it. It is in fact one of the greatest books.