1998 Roverandom (Derek Jacobi)

Release Date: 1998
Reader: Sir Derek Jacobi
Language: English
Translator: n/a
Organisation: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: See below
Duration: 2 hours 37 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: UK
Licenced: Yes
Formats: Cassette, CD, Digital

Sir Derek Jacobi is a legendary British actor of stage and screen as a narrator, he brings a “grand old storyteller” energy to the poems. He manages to sound like a Shire elder recounting old rhymes by a fireplace. He brings a “wizards-and-whimsy” energy to this reading. Because the story was originally told to Tolkien’s son Michael to comfort him after losing a toy dog, Jacobi maintains a gentle, paternal storytelling pace.

He is particularly noted for his portrayal of the Psamathos (the Sand-sorcerer) and the Man-in-the-Moon, giving them distinct, slightly eccentric personalities that separate them from the canine protagonist, Rover. Jacobi’s depiction of the small dog’s confusion and wonder as he travels from the moon to the undersea kingdom is considered one of the highlights of the performance.

While the story was written in 1925, it wasn’t published in print until 1998, and the audio production followed immediately after to capitalize on the “new” Tolkien discovery

Release History:

The 1999 cassette inlay features J.R.R. Tolkien’s own illustration: The Gardens of the Merking’s Palace (see image gallery above). This blue-and-green artwork became the “face” of the Roverandom audio brand for over a decade.