http://mentalfloss.com/article/73909/listen-jrr-tolkien-read-and-sing-excerpts-lord-rings
The fantasy writer, Diana Wynne Jones reported famously that Tolkien's lectures were inaudible, disorganized and mumbling. He suffered a laceration of his tongue while playing rugby at King Edward's School in Birmingham, one possible explanation for the mumbling. But in these recordings his speech is lovely. He rolls his r's. He projects. He is rhythmic. He chuckles at his own jokes. It is sheer magic to hear this voice.