The Hobbit Narrated by Martin Shaw [Abridged]

All the singing is removed, the description of Bilbo's house, his climb up the tree with the butterflies are both removed. That is just from what I have read online. I can get through this story in 4 hours so I really can't fathom why it was ever abridged.

My guess, is that since the cover art has always matched up with the younger editions of the book (with the David Wyatt chapter illustrations, usually located in the kids/teen section of the bookstore, as opposed to 'fantasy') is that it's intended for a younger audience.

Comparing them, the Rob Inglis one has a runtime of 11 hours, 5 min (over 10 CDs) with the Shaw reading coming in at 5 hrs 57 min, over 5 CDs.