X-Book

The Hobbit

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now ${{ price }} Send as a gift

Listen to a sample

What to expect

This brand-new unabridged audio book of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved The Hobbit is read by the BAFTA award-winning actor, director and author, Andy Serkis.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…

The prelude to THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century.

Critics Review

‘The Hobbit belongs to a very small class of books which have nothing in common save that each admits us to a world of its own. Its place is with Alice and The Wind in the Willows.’ Times Literary Supplement

‘One of the best loved characters in English fiction… a marvellous fantasy adventure’ Daily Mail

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

User Reviews

Book 4.7
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
Outstanding world creation, character development, story arc and narration.
Still brings me great pleasure over many years and rereads.
VRS 15/04/2025
5.0
5.0
bnwthrs 21/03/2025
5.0
5.0
sophmjewell 08/03/2025
5.0
5.0
HM 02/03/2025
5.0
5.0
TPB 26/11/2024
5.0
5.0
BuffetGibbon 02/10/2024
5.0
5.0
Chris.Wright 17/09/2024
4.0
5.0
Payge Picton 04/05/2024
5.0
5.0
Fabulous! The Hobbit has been a favourite for many years. I first read it over fifty years ago. It was lovely to revisit it in this audio format. Andy read it magnificently and did the brilliance of JRR Tolkien justice.
Martin CAS 22/03/2024
5.0
5.0
Andy serkis' narration is the only way to experience this book properly. I don't think Tolkien himself could've done better. Amazing book and have a new appreciation for the movie getting this so right.
everoutledge 25/01/2024
4.0
5.0
who would have thought after years of not reading fantasy books, thinking it too difficult to remember names and places, or taking too long to finish, that this would be my first and i would enjoy it so much.

i put it down for almost a YEAR after maybe three chapters, but when i picked it up again i finished the other 16 in under two weeks, even with only listening for less than an hour a day on average.

andy serkis does an impeccable with the voices and reading (reading along at the same time and his emphasis on lines that i had skimmed over made them read much easier and more natural that what i had imagined)
i don't doubt that without his narration i wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much.

as someone who had never read the books or seen the films, this enabled me to hear the characters, and also the pronunciation of names that i otherwise would have struggled with.
erin. 18/01/2024
4.0
5.0
An interesting fable and moral tale brought vividly to life by Sarkis's varied and textured reading that includes singing and other sounds. A real treat!
JCC 10/01/2024
5.0
5.0
amberlinde 01/01/2024
3.0
5.0
anniedactyl 28/10/2023
5.0
5.0
chloe.mosonyi 16/07/2023
5.0
5.0
kimbishop 14/04/2023
5.0
5.0
SultanJosh 05/02/2023
5.0
5.0
I love The Hobbit, and now I think my favourite way to read the story is to listen to Andy Serkis narrate The Hobbit.
elizabeth 19/01/2023
5.0
5.0
Brilliant.

What can I say?! (Andy Serkins) does a splendid job. Flawless movement between the many, many deferent character narration, making it so enjoyable. Giving new life to the jigs and songs, which was extremely lively and thus so much enjoyable. The dramatisation makes this age old tale come alive in the mind and stays there a long time after the last word has been uttered.

Iu2019m not sure if itu2019s the story however, I would gather that, Andy doing the narration with Tolkienu2019s work was even better than (Stephen Fry) doing Harry Potteru2026 and that in itself was fabulous. However this was better. Who wouldu2019ve thought?!?! Only my humble opinion of course, lol.
You will enjoy this oneu2026 it was simply marvellous.
Tahdah ud83dudc95ud83dudc95ud83dudc95ud83dudc95
Bri 14/12/2022

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.