Tales from the Perilous Realm

By: J. R. R. Tolkien

Narrated by: Derek Jacobi

Combined into one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien’s five acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tales in the vein of The Hobbit, read by Derek Jacobi.

The five tales are written with the same skill, quality and charm that made The Hobbit a classic. Largely overlooked because of their short lengths, they are finally together in a volume which reaffirms Tolkien's place as a master storyteller for readers young and old.

• Roverandom is a toy dog who, enchanted by a sand sorcerer, gets to explore the world and encounter strange and fabulous creatures.
• Farmer Giles of Ham is fat and unheroic, but – having unwittingly managed to scare off a short-sighted giant – is called upon to do battle when a dragon comes to town;
• The Adventures of Tom Bombadil tells in verse of Tom's many adventures with hobbits, princesses, dwarves and trolls;
• Leaf by Niggle recounts the strange adventures of the painter Niggle who sets out to paint the perfect tree;
• Smith of Wootton Major journeys to the Land of Faery thanks to the magical ingredients of the Great Cake of the Feast of Good Children.

Taken together, this rich collection of tales from the author of The Children of Húrin will provide the reader with a fascinating journey into lands as wild and strange as Middle-earth.

Critic reviews

Roverandom:
‘An old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today… would leap to life when read aloud to a child’ Independent

Farmer Giles of Ham:
‘A fabulous tale of the days when giants and dragons walked the kingdom’ Sunday Times

Leaf by Niggle:
‘A haunting and successful demonstration of the qualities of faerie’ New York Times

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil:
‘Something close to genius’ The Listener

Smith of Wootton Major:
‘Whoever reads it at eight will no doubt still be going back to it at eighty’ New Statesman

Great storytelling and stories overall

I think Roverrandom is the best one of the tales, but overall all of them do have it’s charm and magic.

Excellent Collection of Shorter Works

This collection includes some of Tolkien’s short stories and poetry. The stories are very good, especially Leaf by Niggle. Much of the poetry is related to, or appeared in a different form in, his Middle Earth books.

Derek Jacobi is a beloved and talented actor. His reading of Farmer Giles of Ham was perfect, but I don’t think he really understand how to read poetry. He just couldn’t find the meter.

A great collection of stories

This is a great collection of short stories. Each story was enjoyable. Some will really help someone to laugh while others make one thing. There are some great lessons woven into the stories. It was a simple or listen.

A most pleasing collection.

Excellent reader. Really wish they would have used the rhythms when reciting some of the poems used in the lotr series.

tolkien is the master story teller.

Loved it. Stories full of fun and adventure. Leaf by Niggle and Farmer Giles should be known across the land.