Letters from Father Christmas Audiobook By J. R. R. Tolkien cover art

Letters from Father Christmas

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Letters from Father Christmas

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Derek Jacobi, John Moffatt, Christian Rodska
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Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply?

Every year, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien would write to Father Christmas, and the letters they received told wonderful stories of his adventures at the North Pole.

These humorous tales are brought to life by Derek Jacobi as Father Christmas, John Moffatt as Polar Bear, and Christian Rodska as Ilbereth the Elf, complete with specially composed music.

©1997, 200 4 (P)1997 HarperCollins UK Classics Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Christmas Winter Polar Region Witty Feel-Good Heartfelt Funny Scary Holiday Classics

Featured Article: Elrond—A Lord of the Rings Character Guide


If you love J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, then you know that all of the events of the story would be impossible without the half-Elf Elrond. Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell, lived in Middle-earth from the First Age to the beginning of the Fourth Age. It was with the help of Elrond that the evil Sauron was defeated and alliances were forged. Elrond is one of the most prominent characters throughout Tolkien's stories. But who is he and what is his story?

Featured Article Elrond A Lord of the Rings Character Guide
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Whimsical Storytelling • Magical Christmas Atmosphere • Excellent Narration • Heartwarming Family Letters
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Was much better than I expected. It wasn't a deep plotted story That I needed to concentrate to follow. I found it very enjoyable to listen to yet a great bedtime story I could come back to and hear something new.

Letters from Father Christmas

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JRR can’t help himself from turning what could have just been a simple letter exchange about presents into an explosion of creative world building about the North Pole. I only wish there was more to know about his Father Christmas, the North Polar Bear and the goblin horde.

The cast reading captures the spirit perfectly. This is easily a new staple in my holiday listening.

Ridiculously enchanting

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It’s recorders and wooden blocks... and yes, there’s a lot of it, but if one thinks of it as marking the passage of time, it’s all right.

It’s not synthesized music!

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What a wonderful and charming story! I enjoyed it tremendously and would highly recommend it!!

Letters from Father Christmas

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This heart warming and whimsical exchange between "Father Christmas" and the family of Tolkien over several years will be a Christmas tradition for me moving forward.

A Christmas delight!

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This lovely book kept me entertained and stress free this Christmas. Well, of course it’s J. R. R. Tolkien! Never heard it before and I loved it. I can’t wait to hear it again next year and I’m 56 :) Things have been tough and this helped me feel the magic of Christmas as a child and every age in between. I wish I could thank the amazing man who put pen to paper but I guess I can everyone on Audible know it’s fantastic...

Wonderful, Charming and Delightful!

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I remember being enchanted by these letters when first I read them many years ago. What a labor of love they clearly were, in which Tolkien brings his storytelling skills right into his family and makes a magical time for his children some even more precious.
I was very excited to find the Letters in Audible's collection with Derek Jacobi reading them. All in all, that excitement was justified. Mr. Jacobi's Father Christmas is superb as expected, and the ancillary parts of Polar Bear and the elf are well read as well.
My biggest problem with the performance is the production itself; with all the repetitive and meaningless musical interludes, which, for me, interfere with the magic of the text and the reading. There is some serious lily-gilding going on here, and I regret the production decisions that get in the way of enjoying the text and the performance of that text for themselves.
Your mileage may vary, and I'm still heartily recommending this work.

Almost perfect

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nice for kids to listen to while traveling in car
things to talk about and Tolkien fans will recognize some elements.

nice listen for children

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If only it was longer. This collection of letters from father Christmas to Tolkien's children is simply delightful. Even as an adult I chuckled and listened intently for the stories told through letters from the north pole.

Short and Enjoyable!

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What an adorable collection of letters, artfully narrated. I must now find the book in print so I may see all of the drawings described.

A delightful way to spend Boxing Day

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