Tales from the Perilous Realm (Four BBC Radio Full Cast Dramas)

J. R. R. Tolkien

ISBN 10: 1602834784 ISBN 13: 9781602834781

Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America, 2008

Synopsis

For the first time in A-format, the definitive collection of Tolkien's four acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of The Hobbit. 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 the dragon Chrysophylax comes to town; The Adventures of Tom Bombadil tells by way of 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. The four tales are written with the same skill, quality and hallmarks that made Tolkien's 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.

About this title

About the Author

J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.

From AudioFile

This collection of four of Tolkien's short works, dramatized for BBC Radio, is narrated by Sir Michael Hordern, who played Gandalf in the BBC dramatization of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. The stories include "Farmer Giles of Ham," featuring Brian Blessed as an unlikely dragon hunter, and "Smith of Wootton Major," with Paul Copley as a young blacksmith who visits the faerie realm. "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" is a sequence from THE LORD OF THE RINGS not included in the BBC adaptation of that saga. The story will be familiar to Tolkien devotees, even though it's not the cycle of poems from Tolkien's book, but it will likely confuse most listeners. The highlight of the set is "Leaf by Niggle," a beautiful allegory about art, life, and meaning, featuring Alfred Molina as a beleaguered artist and John Fleming as his neighbor. S.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2009 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Edition details

• Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1602834784
• ISBN 13: 9781602834781
• Binding: Audio CD
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 1