Book description
Tolkien's Smith of Wootton Major stands as a luminous gem among his lesser-known works, a contemplative and elegantly crafted narrative that diverges from the epic scope of The Lord of the Rings to explore subtler themes of art, mortality, and the elusive boundary between the real and the imagined. Originally conceived as a preface to George MacDonald's The Golden Key, the story evolved into a deeply personal meditation on the nature of fantasy and its role in human experience. Written toward the end of Tolkien's creative life, it reflects the maturity of a mind long immersed in myth and language.
The tale follows Smith, a humble man from the village of Wootton Major, who, through an act of kindness in his youth, gains the ability to enter Faery-a realm both wondrous and perilous. Unlike the grand struggles of Middle-earth, this story unfolds with quiet introspection, examining how encounters with the numinous shape a life across time. Tolkien's prose is restrained yet evocative, carrying the weight of his lifelong scholarly engagement with myth and legend.
This audiobook edition offers more than just a reading; it presents the text with reverence, allowing the lyrical cadences of Tolkien's language to resonate anew. Accompanied by insights into the story's development and enriched by previously unpublished materials, including early drafts and Tolkien's own reflections on the essence of Faery, it provides listeners with a fuller understanding of his artistic vision. For those familiar with Tolkien's legendarium, Smith of Wootton Major reveals unexpected connections to his broader mythological world, while standing independently as a poignant exploration of creativity and transcendence.
Rope
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Apple Nola
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Referee
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Winter Underdog
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Voodoo Queen
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Chip Queen
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Highway
is a breeze with ListenBook. It's convenient and reliable. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Capital F
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NexusNavigator
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Moon Peaches
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Fire Bite
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Breadmaker
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CoB@lt
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience