2022 Roverandom (Markus Bäckman)

Release Date: 2022.06.01
Reader: 2022 Roverandom (Markus Bäckman)
Language: Finnish
Translator: Kersti Juva & Alice Martin
Organisation: WSOY
ISBN: 9789510478493
Duration: 2 hour 42 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Finland
Licenced: Yes
Formats: Digital

This recording was part of a focused effort to release Tolkien’s shorter works in high-quality audio formats, following the successful Finnish audio release of Kirjeitä Joulupukilta (Letters from Father Christmas) in late 2021.

Markus Bäckman is a well-known Finnish musician and voice artist, often recognized as the “voice of Disney” in Finland for his extensive work in dubbing. He has a deep, resonant bass-baritone voice and uses his utilizes his background in musical theatre to navigate the rhythmic prose of the “Little Kingdom.”

The prose was translated by Juva (originally published in 2001), while the verses were translated by Alice Martin. Juva is known for her ability to find Finnish equivalents for Tolkien’s complex wordplay. Bäckman’s reading highlights the rhythmic quality of Juva’s prose, making the many puns and “dog-logic” jokes land effectively for Finnish listeners.