Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet, contented life, with no desire to travel far from the comforts of home. But his melancholy existence forever changes when he becomes the reluctant hero of a dangerous expedition to raid the treasure of Smaug the dragon. An instant success when it was first published in 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale of trolls, goblins, magic, and adventure has lost none of its appeal.

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The creator himself reads and sings his famed Middle Earth enchantments in this unique, historic recording. Tolkien's work takes you into the mythical worlds of the Ents, the tree-elves, and other wondrous creatures. This recording of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring (Part I of The Lord of the Rings) is based on one that Tolkien made after he had been rejected by countless publishers and was just about ready to give up hope of ever seeing his work in print. After producing it, his spirits were revived, leading him to send his manuscript out once more. In his lifetime, Tolkien saw 3 million copies of The Lord of the Rings sold to the public.
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Whether you're a diehard fan or have never taken the leap into his mythical world of wonder, J.R.R. Tolkien's spirited narration of his own work is a perfect guide for your journey into the enchanting world of The Lord of the Rings. In this historic recording, Tolkien reads and sings from his classic novel, which has entranced millions of readers. Featured are excerpts from The Two Towers, The Return of the King, and The Fellowship of the Ring, Elvish plain chants, a moving elegy for Boromir, and much more.

The Audio Download is a short ( 42 minute ) prelude guide into The Lord of the Rings narrated by the author, J.R.R. Tolkien, himself.




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Before the world began, the startling beauty of the Holy Ones awakened into song. The sound, like countless choirs, became an ever changing melody. It was the music of the Ainur that set the world spinning within the endless habitation of space. Music filled the earth with air and fire and water; stone and silver and gold; vast halls and spaces. And Music it was that caused the Children of Invatar, Men and Elves, to be born.

Of the Elven races, it was the Noldor, the most skilled of Elves in Earthlore, who first achieved the power of making gems. And it was the great Elf Fëanor who made the Silmarils, the fairest of all gems, long since lost. Kept within the Silmarils was the glory of the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, long after the Trees themselves were poisoned by the greed of the first Dark Lord Morgoth. These 3 great living jewels were hallowed so no mortal flesh nor anything evil might touch them. But deep within His fortress underground, the Dark Lord lusted after them. The peaceful days of Valinor were numbered, and despite the revolt of the Elves, the Dark Lord triumphed. As was His wish, Elves and Men became estranged. Those of the Elven races waned and faded and men usurped the sunlight...

The Silmarillion, considered to be Tolkien's most important work, is the story of the creation of the world and the happenings of the First Age, clearly setting the stage for all his other works. With a superb performance by Martin Shaw, this first installment of 3 volumes will thrill and delight Tolkien fans of all ages, and listeners will treasure this extraordinary presentation for years to come.
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In the days of the Long Peace, Finrod Felagund saw fire in the evening and heard the sound of song and, looking down into a camp, beheld a strange people. These were a part of the kindred and following of Beor the Old, a chieftain among Men. After many lives of wandering out of the East, Beor had led them over the Blue Mountain, and they sang because they believed they had at last come to a land without fear. But Morgoth was watchful and secretly went forth into Middle-Earth so that, by terror and lies, he might make Men the foes of Elves. And Morgoth's power overshadowed the Northlands.

In the darkness of those days, the love-bright warrior, Beren, of the tribe of Men set forth to bring back a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth for the love of Lúthien, daughter of the Elven-king. And he brought it back, and set it before the Elven-king though he lost his hand in the bringing. So it was that the fates of Beren and Lúthien were joined forever far beyond the confines of the world. Through Lúthien's love the Two Kindreds - Elves and Men - were joined to usurp the power of Morgoth and his hordes...and almost succeeded.
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The Elf-Man Tůrin Turambar, the last of the great heroes born of man but fostered by the Grey-elves of Mithrim, was fair and strong and marked by sorrow. A dragon-slayer, he was also a curse unto his kin, treacherous to foes, faithless to friends, and husband of his sister. During Tůrin's time and long past, Ulmo, King of the Sea, came to Valinor out of the deep waters, and spoke of the need of the Elves and the overpowering might of Morgoth. And the War of Wrath began. At its end the Silmarils found their homes: One in the airs of heaven, one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the blackness of the waters, and all Middle-Earth was peaceful for many years.

Peace reigned until the rise of Sauron, greatest servant of Morgoth, who recovered the rings of power and wore the Ruling Ring until it was cut from his hand. At the bidding of Mithrandir, the Great Ring of Power was cast into the Fire of Mount Doom from where it was wrought. Men grew strong and prospered. But the power of the Three Rings was ended and the world grew weary and grey to Elven-kind. They departed by ship into the high airs above the mists of the world, a whisper of harp-sound moving through the Ancient West. And an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song.
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The fan base devoted to J.R.R. Tolkien's work is growing. Here, to tie in with the release of the first Lord of the Rings film, is Meditations on Middle-Earth, a collection of original essays written by today's top fantasy and science fiction authors on the importance of The Lord of the Rings to their lives and work.

What does the name 'Tolkien' mean? To what nighttime activity does The Hobbit owe its origin? How many years did Tolkien devote to the writing of The Lord of the Rings? Which of his works did Tolkien consider the most important? Who counseled Bilbo to 'Never laugh at live dragons'? By what other names was Morgoth known?Find the answers to these questions and many, many more trivial truths inside this delightful little book for Tolkienphiles!

These two epic fantasies take place in Middle-earth, suggestive of life in medieval days. The characters are many, fantastic, and all necessary for the evolution of this great vision of the classical battle between good and evil and the quest for a magical ring.