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

Beautiful

Both the story and the narration are wonderful. Obviously this is a 19th century European American view of Native American stories. And it is very beautiful, and expresses deep sympathies and feelings. The sense of nature and the passing of the native people as they were is just as and even more poignant today.

Listening to this poem is a very good way to appreciate it. At 3+ hours it is short enough to listen in a unified way that adds to its impact.

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.

Excellent narration

The narrator reads naturally, avoiding the temptation to overemphasize the beat. A poem like this can sound trivial and be tiring if the rhythm isn't controlled.

Perfect Narration

The perfect narration of the book! Not going to delete it from my device as I am sure I will be returning to it again and again.

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!

Reminds what imagination is for

We all imagine stuff all the time, but after childhood kind of forget just how wild imaginations should be free to run. The stories seemed much more surreal and dreamlike than even fairy tales, maybe because they derive from such a different time and culture. If you're a fan of Lake Superior and the Michigan UP, this would be top notch playlist material in a tent by the Pictured Rocks. I've unfairly taken one star off the storyline in protest of the end when the white men come in their oversized canoes and wreck all the magic.

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.

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.

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.

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