The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

By: L. Frank Baum

Narrated by: Anne Hathaway

Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Anne Hathaway Destroys

Anne Hathaway dominated the narration of this pleasant children's story so masterfully that it sent shivers down my spine. Wonderfully gleeful performance, you can almost hear the ear-to-ear smile in her voice. Far and away the best narration I've heard yet. Seriously looking forward to more of this "A-List Collection," in which celebrities narrate audiobooks. [AUDIBLE]

You only think you know this story...

If you could sum up The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in three words, what would they be?

What a wonderful story! Most people with a casual or nostalgic interest in The Wizard of Oz will be delightfully surprised to find out the book is wonderful but different than the movie. Many things in the movie musical mirror the book quite closely but there is much in the book that is not in the movie. So my three words are Wonderful, Surprised, and Delightful!

What did you like best about this story?

What I enjoyed most about listening to this book was re-discovering Oz in all its wonder. And finding out there is more to the Land of Oz than I had ever thought or expected.

What does Anne Hathaway bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Anne Hathaway does an outstanding job of performing this book. There are many different types of characters in this book, from mice to flying monkeys, she portrays each character with a unique voice that if you just read the book, instead of listening, would be lost.

Anne Hathaway is amazing!

Her voice is soothing and the story is good as well. You won't regret purchasing!!! Great for kids and adults.

Book far exceeds the movie!

This is the first time that I’ve listened to this book after growing up a huge fan of the movie. I should have known that the book is always better and no where near as scary for children. Anne’s performance was a bit cheesy at times with voices but still endearing as she brought to life the many characters. Overall a wonderful time in the wonderful wizard of oz.

wow

i never thought that anne hathaway would be such an amazing narrator but she really did make the book so much better. she acted out every character and made it amazing to listen too.

Incredible Narration, Wonderful Story

Hathaway voices all the characters differently and adds emotion to the voices. It's absolutely awesome. I love the way these books are written as well. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. No regrets at all picking this one of the many choices!

great telling of a classic story.

My 7 year old and I were enthralled listening to this on a road trip. Anne Hathaway does a great performance.

Spectacularly Done!

Loved this version. Anne Hathaway is extraordinary. My 6 year olds already want to listen again.

Excellently narrated, well written, captivating

This is an excellent book. Well narrated entertaining and captivating. I will definitely recommend it.

All the wonders of Oz and more!

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

Yes, it was a delightful story with so much more detail than the movie.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dorothy, of course. Aren't we all looking for something out of reach and all need to learn that our true heart's desire is right here at home?

Which character – as performed by Anne Hathaway – was your favorite?

Anne Hathaway did an outstanding job with each of the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Too many to count.

Any additional comments?

I ordered the story for my grandson who is reading the book in his English class at school. His teacher is having them compare the written story to the movie and is also having them apply the lessons to what they see in real life. Once he returned my Kindle to me, I decided to listen to it myself. So glad I did!