2020 Beren and Lúthien (Timothy & Samuel West)

Release Date: 2020.04.30
Readers: Timothy & Samuel West
Language: English
Organization: HarperCollins
Copyright: © 2020 HarperCollins
Duration: 6 hours 54 minutes
ISBN: 9780008214241
Unabridged: Yes
Country: United Kingdom
Licenced: Yes
Format: CD, Digital

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Father and son duo, Samuel & Timothy West narrate this work, with Samuel reading the commentary, prefaces and editorial notes of Christopher Tolkien while Timothy reads the actual poems and prose. The casting was intentional to reflect the structure of the book, which was edited and curated by Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien. This division of labour effectively allows the listener to distinguish between the “scholarship” (the son) and the “mythology” (the father).

The production won the AudioFile Earphones Award. Critics and fans alike praised the Wests for bringing “decades of classic British stage experience” to the work. Commentators noted that Timothy West’s reading of the prose has a “grandfatherly” warmth that makes the dense mythology feel more personal.

They had previously performed in the same way on The Fall of Gondolin, the previous year and will again the following year on Unfinished Tales.

Release History:

FormatDateDetailISBN
Digital2020.04.30Downloadn/a
CD2020.11.127 x CD9780008214241