Hiawatha [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Author), William Hootkins (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2005

Longfellow's great narrative poem has been unjustly neglected in recent years though it gives a sympathetic portrait especially of Hiawatha, reared by Nokomis, daughter of the Moon, and his bride Minehaha. It is famously underpinned by its hypnotic rhythm, which makes it ideal listening.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

For many readers, William Hootkins's reading of Longfellow's classic nineteenth-century poem will evoke memories of elementary or middle school. Longfellow's extended narrative is set in a regular, easily recognized rhythm. This rhythm guides Hootkins's delivery, as this is more of a performance than a simple reading. He powerfully underscores the moments of import, giving the impression of a traditional storyteller revisiting a familiar piece. The one weakness in Hootkins's performance may come from matching Longfellow's poetry too closely. At times, the poem seems to drive on in the same vein for too long, with too many attempts at peak moments. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks; Unabridged edition (July 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9626343400
• ISBN-13: 978-9626343401
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Books on CD > Poetry & Drama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hiawatha Returns!, January 16, 2008

By 

John Snow "John Vance Snow" (Sohar, Oman) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hiawatha (Audio CD)

Poor Hiawatha! For years, this great American poem of the 19th century has been relegated to the children's poetry shelves, where it lies languishing, despite several fine picture book editions of parts of it. Parodied almost upon publication, notably by Lewis Carroll, its heavy beat, taken from a Finnish epic, has been thought of as archsoporific. To use Shaw's phrase for late Ibsen drama, it has to be really DONE. And it is in this superb, unabriged recording. The producers and reader William Hootkins have trusted the poem itself, and Longfellow's intentions, not the parodists. The result? The restoration of an American classic, one of the first truly populist works in the canon of American poetry. The richness of the language and the stirring images, especially of Hiawatha and Mudgikeewis, are there to be revelled in. Should you ask me, is it worth it, is this reading worth the effort, I should say, Do but listen, do but stop and hear the heartbeats! Excellent, and very much needed!