The Song of Hiawatha

By: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Narrated by: William Hootkins

Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2005 Naxos AudioBooks

More fascinating than I expected

I bought this audio mainly because I was going to Alaska, wanted SOMEthing about Native Americans, and had never read it in high school, so I thought listening to it would be less painful than reading it. To my surprise, it turns out to be a fascinating string of legends about the mythical Hiawatha, his coming of age, taking a wife, enduring hardships, and his eventual leaving his tribe for an unknown land.

The author's skill in telling these stories within the poetic meter is matched by the narrator's ability to read the poetry in a very natural way, making the listener almost forget that the beauty of the words falls always within the meter. Any literature student assigned this poem should listen to this version, to really appreciate the best in American poery.

The narrator is amazing

It is difficult to think of a narrator better suited for The Song of Hiawatha than the late, great William Hootkins. I believe he reads the poem almost better than it's written, with such feeling, grace and timing, perfect pathos and emotion. And the poem? It's enchanting, with its clear, hypnotic meter. It evokes a clear sensation of an ancient, hallowed story, of an ancient native legend. Sure, it's parodied quite widely (I myself am almost tempted to compose this humble comment in trochaic tetrameter) but it doesn't really matter.

Very highly recommended.

This book is exquisite as is its narration

I'm not a Native American scholar and could care less about the accuracy or historicity of the contents of this epic poem. I do not come to it seeking historical accuracy and do not know how close it ever comes to it. What I do know is that this work lends an air of dignity, refinement, and gravitas to the Native American traditions that historically have only been afforded to the classical cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Yet it does so with a spirit of respect and humility in the face of a deep and ancient civilization. The Song of Hiawatha, in a word, is exquisite, as is its performance in this edition.

Longfellow's poetry is sublime. William Hootkins' reading of it is immaculate, enthralling, and rapturous. He keeps to and makes evident the meter, without being slavish or pedantic. For days I found my thoughts wandering into trochaic tetrameter because of the natural way that Longfellow's verse is performed by Hootkins.

This book is a must listen for audiobook lovers, for anyone interested in the cultural heritage of America, or anyone who wants to gain an appreciation of poetry in the English language.

LONGFELLOW

“The Song of Hiawatha” is a four-hour poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and nicely narrated by William Hotkins.

Published in 1855, it is a telling of a 16th century legend about an Iroquois Indian chieftain named Tarenyawagon, who was said to have had the power of a god in the form of a man. Tarenyawagon was called the “Holder of the Heavens” with the power to take any form or shape.

There is the story of the ten sisters that marry; one of which is the youngest and most beautiful that chooses to marry an ugly old man. The old man has been trapped by a spell. The spell is broken and the old man becomes a handsome young man; but, at the same time, the beautiful young sister is transformed into an ugly old woman. The young man slows his step; stays with his newly old wife because he loves her for who she is. This new spell is soon broken so that the tenth sister, once again, becomes a beautiful young woman. True love is between spirits; not between human forms that are only the outer manifestation of who we are.

“The Song of Hiawatha” is a great family entertainment; like a bible parable, it has teaching moments.

Surprisingly nice

I liked this piece quite a bit. Hiawatha was loosely based on a real Indian chief of the 1500's.

Walt Disney has done this poem a great disservice by making it possibly one of his silliest characters ever.

Longfellow had read a history of Hiawatha and then wrote a grand poem. It surprised me but this poem really is in the stream of Beowolf and Gilgamesh.

This poem does not have the passion I found in Beowolf and Gilgamesh, but it reminds me of what it was like to live on this continent before the Europeans arrived, and long afterwards. The power of nature through its spiritual and apparent manifestations is key. In this poem all nature talks.

Ben

American Classic That Comes Alive With Reading

This great American epic poem was once a standard in American education but faded in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries when American Romanticism became passe. I had always wanted to read it but was dissuaded by English professors. By chance I found a printed edition with illustrations by Frederick Remington that I had in my personal library for years. I went to Audible.com and found the poem narrated by Hootkins. After listening to a sample, I decided to listen to the poem while reading it. This combination of written and spoken reinforced the teaching that poetry must be really heard to be appreciated. The four hours I spent were a wonderful appreciation of the genius of Longfellow and the ability of a great reading to make an old poem come alive. For those of you who love classic literature and have not experienced this poem before, the four hours with book and headset will be rewarding.

Outstanding Reading

This has always been one of my favorite works. The audiobook is an absolutely wonderful listening experience. If you're a Longfellow fan, don't hesitate to buy this!

A lovely reading.

Brings me back home to Minnesota and to the creatures found in the in the northlands.

nature scenes

Some of the best nature scenes in poetry. Excellent narrator. I see why it was so popular a century ago.

Excellent Romantic narrative

It is easy to take issue with Longfellow's masterwork. But it is a masterwork, even so, and I believe he went about it seriously, meaning to do justice to the Iroquois. The passage where Hiawatha loses his wife is worth the whole book. The narrator is excellent throughout.