2003 Der Elbenstern (Achim Höppner)

Smith of Wootton Major

Release Date: 2003.09.13
Reader: Achim Höppner
Language: German
Translator: Karl A. Klewer
Organisation: © 2003 der Hörverlag
ISBN: 9783899402049
Duration: 1 hours 18 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Germany
Licenced: Yes
Formats: CD, Digital

The recording was first released in September 2003 by Der Hörverlag. It is an unabridged reading of the story, which is often titled Der Elbenstern in Germany, though it sometimes carries the subtitle Der Schmied von Großholzingen.

Achim Höppner (1946–2006) remains one of the most iconic voices in German Tolkien history. He was the dubbing voice for Ian McKellen’s Gandalf, his narration of Tolkien’s prose carries an inherent authority and “magic” for German fans. His reading of Der Elbenstern is noted for its calm, fairytale-like quality. He captures the transition from the mundane life of the village Smith to the ethereal, often dangerous beauty of Faery with a voice that is both warm and commanding. Sadly, Höppner passed away in 2006, just after recording The Fellowship of the Ring and Das Silmarillion.

The recording uses the translation by Karl A. Klewer. While Margaret Carroux is the most famous German Tolkien translator, Klewer’s version of Smith of Wootton Major is the standard for the German market. He chose the title Der Elbenstern (The Elven Star), focusing on the physical token that grants the protagonist passage into the Elven realm.

This release is Volume 3 of a six-part series published by Der Hörverlag titled Tolkiens kleinere Werke (Tolkien’s Smaller Works). The series includes: