Lord of the Rings [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio Cassette)

by J. R. R. Tolkien (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Packaged in a beautifully designed slip-case gift box, The Tolkien Collection gathers for the first time both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in audio format. These are the original American dramatizations as broadcast on public radio. The packaging features original art from John Howe, renowned Tolkien illustrator and conceptual artist for the Peter Jackson film trilogy.

About the Author
J. R. R. TOLKIEN was a writer and university professor. In addition to The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's published fiction includes The Silmarillion, and other posthumously published books, which taken together is a connected body of work about an imagined—and much-beloved by readers—world called Middle-earth.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Highbridge Audio; Abridged edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156511549X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565115491
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5 x 3.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,964,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Abridged, but fun for the whole family, December 20, 2001

By A Customer

I listened to this dramatization after I'd read The Lord of the Rings, and I enjoyed it. Though it's an abridged version, most of the important parts are included and you get a very good idea of the full scope of the story.

I think the character of Sam is particularly well done. He shows that courage is when an ordinary person does something extraordinary out of necessity, not because of an ideal. I also liked the Ents--they were just how I imagined them--and Merry and Pippin's clowning was fun. Hearing Tom Bombadil speak also made some sense out of all those Ring Dong a Dillos!

I would recommend this audiobook as a family activity. If you have children too young to read the book by themselves, they would certainly enjoy listening to this dramatization (though you may have to help the younger ones through a few scary parts).

1.0 out of 5 stars The Other dramatization by Brian Sibley is MUCH better!, December 26, 2001

By	Baba "mhchung" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

There have been two dramatizations of The Lord of the Rings available for over 20 years now. One is the Mind's Eye which is essentially the American version and the other is a BBC production made in England. In short, the Mind's Eye production is very poor in both performance and sound quality. Listening to Gandalf and Sauruman speak to each other in one episode was like listening to two demented elderly people exchange pointless barbs in a nursing home. It was stunningly bad.

In comparison, the BBC production is marvelous. With at least two Shakepearean actors who have been knighted for their acting virtuousity, Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, the BBC version is awash in fine acting. Peter Woodthorpe portrayal of Gollum is inimitable. Brian Sibley also does a superb job of writing the play. He did such a good job, he was asked to consult on the film version that Peter Jackson just directed. Did you like the film? Then buy the BBC dramatization.

It took me years to find the BBC version to buy. Only the Mind's Eye version was available in the United States for years, nay, decades. In the end, I was forced to buy the BBC version in London itself. How times have changed. Now Amazon offers both productions -- Mind's Eye and BBC. Do yourself and your family a favor. If you are going to buy any Tolkein dramatization at all, but the BBC version written by Brian Sibley. It is marvelous.

5.0 out of 5 stars MindsEye has the Ring, December 19, 2001

By A Customer

Wonderful PBS adaptation of the Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Great fare for driving and good enough to keep the kids entertained.