The closest audiobook to The Hobbit is The Fellowship of the Ring, and you can hear it in the same voice you heard The Hobbit in: Andy Serkis recorded both for HarperCollins (2020 and 2021), and Rob Inglis recorded both for Recorded Books (1991 and 1990). If you want a different author with the same small-hero-on-a-journey feel, try The Book of Three read by James Langton or Watership Down read by Peter Capaldi.

The five picks

Book Narrator Why it fits after The Hobbit Audiobook edition
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Andy Serkis or Rob Inglis Same world, Bilbo’s ring, a longer road Serkis / Inglis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis Michael York A short classic in which ordinary children walk into a magic world Michael York
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander James Langton An unlikely young hero pulled into a quest James Langton
Watership Down by Richard Adams Peter Capaldi A small band leaves home and travels through danger to a new one Peter Capaldi
The Princess Bride by William Goldman Rob Reiner A storyteller’s voice, humor and adventure in one sitting Rob Reiner

Which Hobbit recording you heard matters

There are two complete readings of The Hobbit. Rob Inglis recorded The Lord of the Rings for Recorded Books in 1990 and The Hobbit in 1991; until Andy Serkis’s 2020 recording for HarperCollins, Inglis’s was the only commercially available unabridged Hobbit. Serkis then recorded The Fellowship of the Ring in 2021, also unabridged. If you liked one narrator, pick the Fellowship edition by the same reader; if you are not sure, listen to both samples. The Hobbit is also available read by Rob Inglis .

The Fellowship of the Ring

This is the direct follow-on: Frodo inherits Bilbo’s ring and sets out from the Shire. It is longer and slower than The Hobbit, but the road, the inns, the songs and the company of travelers will feel familiar. For more on the order of Tolkien’s books, see The Lord of the Rings reading order .

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Michael York’s unabridged HarperAudio reading is one of the shortest listens here, and it shares The Hobbit’s storybook tone. Audible lists it as book 2 of Narnia in the author’s preferred order; you can still start with it.

The Book of Three

The first of Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain starts when Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper who longs for adventure, chases a runaway pig into real danger. Like Bilbo, Taran is an unlikely hero pulled out of a quiet life. James Langton reads the unabridged Listening Library edition.

Watership Down

A group of rabbits leaves a doomed warren and crosses the countryside to found a new home. It is the most Tolkien-like journey here that isn’t Tolkien: a mismatched company, a leader who grows into the role, and a world with its own legends. Peter Capaldi’s 2019 unabridged reading for Blackstone gives the many characters distinct voices. The novel was first published in 1972.

The Princess Bride

The lightest pick: pirates, giants, a sword fight and a love story told with a wink. Rob Reiner, who directed the film, reads it for Phoenix Books. At about 2 hours 32 minutes, the recording is far shorter than the novel, so read the book if you want Goldman’s full text.

FAQ

What audiobook is most like The Hobbit?

The Fellowship of the Ring. It continues Tolkien’s world and is available read by the same two narrators who recorded The Hobbit: Andy Serkis and Rob Inglis.

Who narrates The Hobbit audiobook?

There are two complete, unabridged readings: Rob Inglis for Recorded Books (1991) and Andy Serkis for HarperCollins (2020). Until Serkis’s recording, Inglis’s was the only commercially available unabridged version.

What is the shortest pick on this list?

The Princess Bride read by Rob Reiner, at about 2 hours 32 minutes. It is much shorter than the novel, so treat it as a condensed reading.

Which pick is best for a younger listener?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe read by Michael York, or The Book of Three read by James Langton. Both are short, unabridged, and written for younger readers.

Sources

For a broader list of quest audiobooks, including Mistborn and The Eye of the World, see fantasy audiobooks for epic quest starters .