Customer Reviews
Imagination made believable - By: MindYerBeak, 25 Dec 2006 
I have this on cassette tape, but have now purchased the CD version for convenience.
The BBC production stimulates the imagination much more than the telly can ever do. Just close your mind & engross yourselfin a believable world of Hobbits, Dragons, magic rings & treasure. Gollum is an excellent character who adds a little humour to the Hobbitses Grand Adventure.
Excellent, easy listening - By: P. Dorrington, 02 Mar 2004 
First off, I have to admit I found the studio production of this CD a little dated - but then, you have to consider when it was recorded.
But get past the rather naff production & you have a genuinely entertaining & enjoyable delivery. The compilation faces 2 challenges - it's never going to live up to your imagination when you read the book & it can't match the visual impact of the recent Lord of the Rings films. No matter how you slice it, you are at first going to be a little disappointed *BUT* stick with it - it grows on you.
The narrative is skillfully delivered, the script a well thought out adaptation & finally, there are going to be those occassions when you just want to listen to a great story.
I would recommend this, but not for those people who want the immediate impact of the film, or who have the time & inclination to read the book
LEGENDARY!!! - By: Mr. G. M. Kalies, 11 Aug 2003 This book is truely my title: LEGENDARY.
JRR Tolkien's imagination stretched to it's limit to create this extraordinary book, & masterpiece, & the moment I opened the first page I could not put it down.
All you can do is marvel at the genious of Tolkien: for how can just one person, with half a century create so many classics and, like I said, legends?
If you've read 'Lord of the Rings' then you must have read this. For this prequel is as good, or even, some believe, better than LotR, because if it wasn't for this book LotR would not be, as it was here that Bilbo found his 'special' ring.
This book involves Bilbo Baggins, & his attempt to steal the treasure under the Lonely Mountain, which is merely guarded by a fire-breathing-Dragon. To add to this danger he, & a group of fellow dwarfs (including Gloin, father of Gimli, who is a main characterin LotR) must find there way to the mountain, with a little help from the well know Wizard- Gandalf, past huge Mountain Trolls, Armies of Goblins, packs of Wolves, hundreds of Man-eating spiders, & the Woodland Elves.
They get captured countless times & death is always narrowly avoided, but do they make it to the mountain & reclaim the treasure, once stolen from the dwarfs, by the evil Dragon?
Read it & see the future that awaits them.
AN ABSOLUTE MUST BUY!!!
Very enjoyable story telling! - By: Suzie Burton, 24 Jul 2003 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, recordedin 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 & 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.
