In the 1970s, professor J.R.R. Tolkien made a few audio recordings of some readings from his works \u201cThe Hobbit\u201d and \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d which were released through the spoken-word label Caedmon Audio. Around the same time Tolkien authorized a adaptation of \u201cThe Hobbit\u201d to be made through the UK record label Argo Records which had been absorbed by Decca Records at the time. This adaptation was spearheaded by Demi Demetriou who enlisted the help of the Scottish actor Nicol Williamson. His talent with voicework allowed him to collaborate with audio director Harely Usill in re-editing the original script, removing many \u2018he said, she said, said so and so\u2019 etc, and relying instead on his vocal character performances to convey who was saying what to whom. As a result the resulting abridged version of The Hobbit was both dramatic and unique without an over-reliance on the descriptive narrative.<\/p>\n