2023 Silmarillion (Wojciech Masiak)

Release Date: 2023.02.27
Reader: Wojciech Masiak
Language: Polish
Translator: Maria Skibniewska
Copyright: © 2023 Zysk i S-ka
ISBN: 9788382029215
Duration: 13 hours 21 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Poland
Licenced: Yes
Formats: CD, Digital

Wojciech Masiak, born in 1977, is a narrator specializing in audiobooks. Initially self-taught, his evident ability lead to a professional career. He also runs his own YouTube channel about the Warhammer 40,000 gaming system, because there isn’t much information about it in Polish.

Before 2023, the Silmarillion was often seen as “too difficult” to narrate professionally in Polish due to the sheer number of names and the ancient tone. Masiak’s version has been praised for making the text accessible. He has narrated Upadek Numenoru (The Fall of Númenor), Silmarillion and Gospodarz Giles z Ham i inne opowieści (Farmer Giles of Ham).

The recording uses the translation by Maria Skibniewska who was the first and a highly respected Polish translator of Tolkien. Her work is famous for its linguistic beauty and for being “blessed” by Tolkien himself during his lifetime. She preserved the original English names while providing an elegant, almost archaic Polish prose.

While Zysk i S-ka often produces high-quality hardback books, this audio version was a digital-primary release.