Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood

By: Mark Twain

Narrated by: Elijah Wood

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Ernest Hemingway said, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn". One hundred years after its author’s death, this classic remains remarkably modern and poignantly relevant. In this new edition, Elijah Wood reads Huck in a youthful voice that may be the closest interpretation to Twain’s original intent. His performance captures the excitement and confusion of adolescence and adventure. Best of all, the immediacy of Wood’s energetic reading sweeps listeners up and makes them feel as though they’re along for the ride, as Huck and Jim push their raft toward freedom.

Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

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Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Elijah Wood’s performance is my nominee for the Narrators’ Hall of Fame. Wood’s unself-conscious reading doesn’t sound like a reading at all. He creates an entire world filled with people who cross class and color lines. His accents range from British to faux-British to all manner of regional affectations, twangs, and drawls. Wood’s delivery makes Mark Twain’s delicious wit and twisty language sound completely natural, especially as Huck invents plausible words to suit the moment. The journey down the Mississippi with Huck and Jim is pure pleasure, as the boy who won’t be "sivilized" and the runaway slave encounter scoundrels, slip out of scrapes, and invent outrageous tales. The listening couldn’t be better if Huck read the story himself." (AudioFile Magazine)

GAN for sure

Have you ever been surprised by how dumb your own opinions were? I thought Mark Twain was too old fashioned and too folksy to be worth the read. I was soo wrong. My advice is clear your mind of any and all expectations. You will love the adventure. Remember you are reading for the chance to go one a ride with the characters. Embrace the journey.

The weird part of this book is that they say “Nigger” way too often. It feels like a common complaint but it is a real Barrier to enjoyment. It makes me uncomfortable and it feels different in my modern ears. Elijah Wood saying it millions of times is quite absurd so you are warned.

Brutal

By today's lense a brutal story of lies and greed and slavery but also examples of forgiveness, loyalty and hope.
I read it 40 years ago. The Audible book was hard to listen too at times.

One of the best performances I've heard

I had a smile on my face from start to finish Loved it. Give it a listen...By and by.

One of the most banned books in America IS America

Written from wise Huckleberry's point of view, this is an adventure in time, place and language that everyone should read. (Believe me. Once you start you won't want to stop.)
This is a near-perfect slice of nonmetropolitan Americana as experienced in the late 1800's. The language is priceless and should be preserved not banned. But don't worry about this. What might be an uncomfortable truth is beautiful in context.
Elijah Wood is terrific as Huck.

3nd time reading.

read it twice in school. so I knew the story was good. my book club is reading it so I decided to listen while at work for the refresher. Elijah Wood makes this story come to life in one hell of a unique way. 100% worth the listen, no matter how many times you've read it.

Amazing!!

The narrator was amazing. The story so well done!!! I have never read the stories of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, it was the best.

Excellent performance

The Kings and Duke got a little bit on the tedious side. But the performance was excellent and even quite humorous. Quite entertaining.

Poor performance!

Mr. Woods fails to perform the different accents of the South, country folks and black folks of the time. This could have been such a great book with the right narrator.

A classic, classicly performed

A classic, classicly performed.
Thoroughly enjoyable reading of this slavery-era tale, written just 20 years after emancipation. It's young and uneducated protagonist ultimately breaks the law as well as the tradition of his birthplace in order to free the slave who had become his friend over the course of their many, exciting adventures together.

Narration was beyond excellent

I had my doubts about Elijah Wood but he was excellent. It is a bit hard to hear the historically accurate, but politically incorrect language. However it adds flavor to the performance that one would not get just reading it.