Looking for a new copy of Tolkien’s works? There are a dizzying number of editions out there, and not all are equally good. The links below will take you to excellent versions of the texts that I myself can vouch for. These are the editions I assign in my classes at Washington College and the ones I use for my own reading. All references to page numbers in my lectures are taken from these editions. Whether you are new to Tolkien or need to replace a battered and well-loved old paperback, I think you’ll love these books.
At the bottom of the page, I have also provided some links to unabridged audio recordings of these works on CD. All of Tolkien’s major works are available in audio format, and I highly recommend experiencing them in this format. It is wonderful to hear Tolkien’s stories read aloud, and these performances are excellent.
The Hobbit and LOTR Boxed Set
These editions are both scholarly and beautiful; they are by far my favorite versions of the four main books. The Lord of the Rings volumes are continuously paginated, emphasizing Tolkien’s original vision of the three volumes as one single book.
For those who want only one of the books, I have also included each one separately below.
The Hobbit
A wonderful edition of the classic story, and a perfect place at which to enter Tolkien’s world. This is the edition I am working from in the Hobbit Series.
The Annotated Hobbit (Douglas Anderson, ed.)
Anderson’s notes on the text are fascinating, and the passages he provides from the first published edition of The Hobbit are priceless.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Books I and II of the Lord of the Rings
The Two Towers
Books III and IV of the Lord of the Rings
The Return of the King
Books V and VI of the Lord of the Rings, plus cool appendices!
The Silmarillion
Tolkien’s legends of the First Age, written in the archaic style of ancient mythology. It is much harder reading than the LOTR, but it is extremely rewarding once you adapt to it.
The Children of Hurin
A recently released, novel-length treatment of the Turin Turambar story from the Silmarillion. The book is beautifully illustrated by Alan Lee, but be warned: the story is very tragic.
LOTR Audio
Read brilliantly by Rob Inglis. This is a true classic; it never leaves my iPod.
The Hobbit Audio
More Rob Inglis. Equally brilliant; Inglis really captures the spirit of the book.
The Silmarillion Audio
Less perfect than Inglis’s reading, but still very good.
The Children of Hurin Audio
Read by Christopher Lee, Saruman in the films.
Heard