The Hobbit

By: J. R. R. Tolkien

Narrated by: Martin Shaw

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable and quiet life. His contentment is disturbed one day when the wizard, Gandalf, and the dwarves arrive to take him away on an adventure.

Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to 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

Critic reviews

‘A finely written saga of dwarves and elves, fearsome goblins and trolls… an exciting epic of travel and magical adventure, all working up to a devastating climax.’
Observer

Fantastic Story

This is my first Audiobook, and I am currently on my fourth hour and I am absolutely loving it. I wish I could find another book that is as good as this one. I have looked around and can't seem to find a book that has a great adventure with diferent races like dwarfs etc,... I looked at the LOTR however when I listened to the sample that total put me off of Dramatised versions, the background music etc is terreble.

The Hobit is fantastic and I highly recommend it, it had a great adventure, many diferent races, and the nerrator just puts the cherry on the top.

Shaw really shows you middle earth

Shaw's interpretation of the various characters is unforgettable.
I decided to buy this audiobook after hearing his reading of the silmarillion. it's a pity that he didn't record the lord of the rings too.

exciting

and different from the movie. very funny and humorous. a nice relaxing book with great story

the voice talent

What a great narrator! So well done. I'd love to hear more narrations from him.

A very enthused family of listeners

My children and I enjoyed this very much and would recommend it. It is read by one person rather than multiple readers, but this was not a problem, rather the narrator was excellent.