2013 Hobit (Vladimír Kudla)

The Hobbit

Release Date: 2012.11.25
Reader: Vladimír Kudla
Language: Czech
Translator: František Vrba
Organization: Tympanum sro
ISBN: 9782356414915
Duration: 12 hours 31 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Czech Republic
Licenced: Yes
Formats: MP3-CD, Digital

Vladimír Kudla (1947–2021) was a highly respected Czech actor and prolific voice artist. His voice is often described as “professor-like” – calm, wise, and slightly weathered. He doesn’t go for a high-octane “Hollywood” performance; instead, he reads like a grandfather telling a story by the fireplace. Kudla passed away in 2021.

This version uses the translation by František Vrba which is noted for its linguistic playfulness. He successfully localized many names into evocative Czech equivalents while maintaining Tolkien’s spirit. Using names like Bilbo Pytlík (Bilbo Baggins), Čaroděj (Gandalf), and Drak Šmak (Smaug).

In 2023, a brand-new Slovak version by Dušan Cinkota was released. This sparked a “Tolkien wave” in the region, leading the Czech publisher Tympanum to aggressively re-market the Kudla version to ensure Czech listeners knew their “Gold Standard” was still available.

The Kudla version was featured in the “ShopRoku 2023” (Shop of the Year 2023) awards on Czech e-commerce sites as one of the best-selling audio titles of the decade.