The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

By: L. Frank Baum

Narrated by: Anne Hathaway

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Female, 2013

One of the best-known stories in American culture, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has stirred the imagination of young and old alike for over 100 years. Academy Award-winning actress Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married, Alice in Wonderland, The Dark Knight Rises) lends her voice to this uniquely American fairy tale.

Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as they get swept away into the magical land of Oz , where they encounter characters and places you may remember from the movie - and several more that never made it to the big screen - on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City.

“It’s such a wonderful book and I was so happy to be a part of bringing it to life”, Ms. Hathaway said. “There are a lot of great voices in it. The more fun you have with it, the sillier and the more free you get with it, the better it is because it’s a story that can handle it. It’s amazing to be able to discover something new about something you feel you know so well.”

Explore more titles performed by some of the most celebrated actors in the business in Audible’s Star-Powered Listens collection.Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Anne Hathaway is nothing short of masterful in her narration of Baum’s beloved classic.... As narrator, she is lithe yet precise; her voice sounds lilting or emphatic, as the story details require. In character, she is spectacular. Each character is filled with personality - a light-voiced Witch of the North; a brusque soldier at Oz’s palace; a monotone, robot-like Oz; and a usually cheerful and genuine Dorothy. The variety enriches the listening experience. Yes, one may know the story well, but Hathaway makes this recording a definitive one.” (AudioFile)

Just wonderful.

Would you listen to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz again? Why?

Yes, there was so much that was in this book that is not in the movie that I found interesting. I also loved Ann reading it. She was great. For any Wicked fans out there, you will find things in this book that are in the play.

What other book might you compare The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to and why?

I don't know as I never read books like this but now I think I may give more like it a try.

What about Anne Hathaway’s performance did you like?

Loved it! She really made the book jump out and take form in ones head.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was shocked at the violence in the book. Lots of chopping off of head. That may bother some children.

Any additional comments?

I want to read all of the books in this series and learn all about Oz and what happens in it and to Dorthy and her friends. Makes me feel like a kid again...maybe for the first time.

Wonderful story; terrible performance

This is simply a delightful and classic story that I and my children (ages 9 & 6) have enjoyed. If you've only seen the film, you should treat yourself to the novel - though it is admittedly difficult not to judge the book in light of the epic film.

What I could not tolerate was Anne Hathaway's dreadful performance. Ideally the narration should complement the story, but not distract or steal from the author's words. Hathaway's performance is a complete distraction - to the point that you hope certain characters won't have anything else to say because you don't want to hear her needlessly over-the-top voicing. Why does the palace guard have a southern (US) accent? Why does another person have a French accent? It's all just too much.

Do yourself a favor and pick from the 5 or so other versions of Baum's classic on Audible.

Much better story than the movie!

I thought I knew Oz, from years of loving the various versions of the movie, the plays, and reading Wicked. Not! L. Frank Baum's story is more complex, less scary, and more thought- provoking than the movie, and I plan to read more of the series as a result. Someone said to me "This was the 'Harry Potter' series of its era", and I can see how! Ann Hathaway's narration was terrific!

The wonderful wizard of Oz

What made the experience of listening to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz the most enjoyable?

I never got to read this story growing up and didn't want my children to miss out, so when i saw that Anne Hathaway was the narrator I grabed it. I decided to listen it and was drawn in by Anne's performance. She broughtlife to all the characters in the world of OZ and new life to this the story.

What did you like best about this story?

Its a childs story that can be enjoyed by an adult with a young heart.

What about Anne Hathaway’s performance did you like?

She is a supreme actress with great talent. I loved her performance.

Any additional comments?

I consider this stroy to be a classic. I find that when a classic like this is narrated by an actor or group of actors it adds new life to a story. I wish more classics were given the opportunity to have new life.

A wonderful job

Would you listen to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz again? Why?

Absolutely. Anne Hathaway does an amazing job as narrator and performer. Her voices are delightful and consistent. A reviewer below had me nearly afraid to get this version, because of claims that she sounds like Marge Simpson when she does the Scarecrow, but I didn't find that to be true at all. I was expecting MARGE SIMPSON and got something a little (marge simpson)ish, but I wouldn't have connected it to Marge at all if someone hadn't suggested it.