• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

  • By: Washington Irving
  • Narrated by: Tom Mison
  • Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (6,456 ratings)

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

By: Washington Irving
Narrated by: Tom Mison
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Publisher's summary

Tom Mison, star of the hit Fox series Sleepy Hollow, narrates the classic Washington Irving short story.

In the secluded Dutch territory of Sleepy Hollow, nebbish schoolmaster Ichabod Crane competes with the town hero for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel, the 18-year-old daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer. As Crane leaves a party at the Van Tassel's farm one autumn evening, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, an apparition said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper snuffed out by a stray cannonball during the Revolutionary War.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

"Tom Mison's voice is delicious. His precise British diction allows listeners to savor Irving's sumptuous descriptions and sly humor. There are many pleasures to be found in Mison's rendition of the brief classic story, though a few instances of Irving's casual racism grate on modern ears. Listen for yourself and discover why it has so captured our collective imagination. (Mison himself stars in Sleepy Hollow, the current TV incarnation.) Whether you're familiar with the original story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman or not, Mison's reading is a gratifying way to experience it." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Treasures Of Jolly Autumn

A free fun Halloween listen from Audible of a famous short story about ghosts and the greedy Ichabod. First published in 1820 the story is brought vibrantly to life by this excellent narration. Tom Mison makes this a complete winner. Really well done!

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

American History

The main reason to read this is for the American History. This gives a good look at what life was like for Teachers in early America. The horror itself is not so much, more of a fun prank that scared our main character.

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22 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!

This is well-loved classic and knows the story, of course, so it's all about the performance, and Tom Mison is perfection. He has a perfect voice for audiobooks, and his acting ability makes his reading soar. Loved it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good

I don't know If this book. Is spooky because I listened to it at night but hmm lol

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Listen to the Legend

All American children grow up with Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow" (1820). It's told and retold; excerpted, condensed and bowdlerized; and made into movies, comic books, cartoons, and even a television series. It's possible to know - or think you know - the story without actually ever reading it.

Not actually reading or listening to "Sleepy Hollow" is like only reading Reader's Digest Condensed Books. You get the general plot - but miss the elegant writing and nuanced foreshadowing.

Irving's stories of Dutch New York stand the test of time. "Sleepy Hollow" and his 1819 "Rip Van Winkle" evoke an agrarian time and place that disappeared nearly two centuries ago. Irving's descriptions of the land make a map in your mind clearer than any Google Street View. As Irving explains, "Local tales and superstitions thrive best in these sheltered, long settled retreats . . ."

Ichabod Crane, the schoolmaster, in his thin, scarecrow-like appearance, comes to life, courting the most eligible young lady in the land, the beautiful and wealthy and landed Katrina Von Tassel. And the headless horseman - the dead Hessian soldier who haunts the land? In Irving's hands, he's both ethereal and eerie.

It's a wonderful story and Tom Mison's narration is good, but the rhythm was a bit choppy.

It's definitely worth the time to listen.

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18 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Hollow bones

Because I had never read the story before but seen countless sleepy hollow versions I wasn't sure what to expect. Tom mason does an excellent narrative and my stomach was a flutter thinking of the headless horseman. I wish this was a longer book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic Narration by Tom Mison

Would you consider the audio edition of Free: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to be better than the print version?

I do own both the audio and the print version of this story. When I heard Tom Mison was narrating it, I jumped at the chance to have the fictional Ichabod Crane from TV to read the origin story for me. I thought he really brought the story to life for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Brom Bones in the original story as he is full of mischief but seems to have a good heart. Brom actually liked Katrina instead of liking the wealth and prestige she could give him as Ichabod did. This is stark contrast to other media portrayals where Ichabod is the hero and Brom is the villain of the piece.

Which character – as performed by Tom Mison – was your favorite?

I liked Tom's voice as Ichabod. It was a stuffier performance than his TV portrayal of another version of his character.

Any additional comments?

Tom Mison was a great narrator. I'd listen to other things he did in the future.

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    5 out of 5 stars

A New Retelling of an Old Favorite

America's first native fairy tale / ghost story is once again retold, and it's a great way to jumpstart the Halloween season as far as I'm concerned. This version is narrated by Tom Mison, who plays Ichabod Crane on TV's Sleepy Hollow. That version has virtually nothing in common with its source material apart from some names. The classic version has a decidedly much better writer, but I'm biased as this has always been one of my favorites growing up. Mison is an excellent narrator for this, capturing the old world feel of the tale perfectly.

For those new to the story, the thing to remember is that this is an old ghost story, and all that implies. It's all about setting the mood and leaving you with questions. It's not "complete" by modern standards, but by the standards when it was written, it's just about perfect.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Reading of Sleepy Hollow!

Would you consider the audio edition of Free: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to be better than the print version?

I had looked for an audio version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow online, but hadn't found one that was any good before now.

What about Tom Mison’s performance did you like?

Tom Mison's reading of the book was absolutely brilliant. He has the perfect voice for the piece, and his reading of the tale is quite enjoyable. The fact that he is Ichabod Crane in the television show of the same name makes it all the more fun.

Any additional comments?

A great reading of an American classic--which I totally enjoyed!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enthralling Narration

I was enthralled by the narration by Tom Mison. I felt like I was in a period movie and a gentlemen was gracing me by reading a story. With Halloween approaching it was fun to read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, although is a lot less scary now that I'm all grown up.

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