The Silmarillion Audiobook By J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien cover art

The Silmarillion

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends April 30, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Silmarillion

By: J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
Narrated by: Andy Serkis
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends April 30, 2025 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $34.84

Buy for $34.84

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The forerunner to The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion tells the earlier history of Middle-earth, recounting the events of the First and Second Ages, and introducing some of the key characters, such as Galadriel, Elrond, Elendil and the Dark Lord, Sauron.

The tales of The Silmarillion are set in an age when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in Middle-earth, and the High Elves made war upon him for the recovery of the Silmarils, the jewels containing the pure light of Valinor.

Included on the recording are several shorter works. The Ainulindalë is a myth of the Creation and in the Valaquenta the nature and powers of each of the gods is described. The Akallabêth recounts the downfall of the great island kingdom of Númenor at the end of the Second Age, and Of the Rings of Power tells of the great events at the end of the Third Age, as narrated in The Lord of the Rings.

This brand-new unabridged recording is read by the acclaimed actor, director and author, Andy Serkis.

©1977 The Tolkien Estate Limited and C.R. Tolkien (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
Classics Epic Epic Fantasy Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Military Scary
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup

Critic reviews

‘How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’
The Guardian

‘Demanding to be compared with English mythologies… at times rises to the greatness of true myth’
Financial Times

‘A creation of singular beauty… magnificent in its best moments’
Washington Post

‘A grim, tragic, brooding and beautiful book, shot through with heroism and hope… its power is almost that of mysticism’
Toronto Globe & Mail

What listeners say about The Silmarillion

Highly rated for:

Captivating Mythology Immersive Storytelling Vivid Characterizations Vivid World-building Intricate Histories
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,632
  • 4 Stars
    169
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    29
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,579
  • 4 Stars
    63
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    14
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,408
  • 4 Stars
    158
  • 3 Stars
    66
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    23

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Want to Actually Get Through the Silmarillion?

but srsly I started and stopped reading the Silmarillion dozens of times over the last 2 decades and could not get myself to actually finish it, until this audio recording.

also if we could get Andy Sirkis to voice everything that'd be great 👀

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful performance

Andy Serkis does the Silmarillion justice. Beautifully performed. Might be better than the Martin Shaw narration (it’s a hard call for me).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderous

loved it. Andy was mesmerizing. So many great points of reference. Wish there was more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Andy Serkis at it again!

The Silmarillion is my favorite book of Tolkiens! Andy Serkis does it justice and keeps you engaged the entire time. Best version for beginners for sure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

The best way to listen to this story and a perfect companion to Andy Serkis’ readings of LOTR and the Hobbit

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Masterpiece of Narration

Andy Serkis is like one of the Elven Bards of Tolkien’s lore who could make stories come to life with their words. I am a huge The Silmarillion fan and have been since I was a boy. But it almost seemed a little cold and distant compared to The Lord of the Rings. But Serkis has made the book a thrilling and accessible tale; and I have learned things that I never quite understood (or just plain missed) reading the text. A masterpiece of narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Andy Serkis is a treasure.

This version was a true and unrelenting joy to listen to. I hope Audible hires Andy to do as many projects and spin offs as his heart desires.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great engrossing tale

Very imaginative and well written. A great tale from the beginning to the end! Recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Andy Serkis wins again

This is a difficult books to read. Especially the beginning parts. Andy Serkis brings this book to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this “history” and it was not at all what I expected. A must listen for any self professed LotR’s lover.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal storytelling

The storytelling is phenomenal, obviously, the voices are great. The only thing is it’s read incredibly slowly. I’d have to listen at 1.5 speed to not feel like it was dragging, but then obviously, it sounded a little weird. 

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!