• Wicked

  • The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
  • By: Gregory Maguire
  • Narrated by: John McDonough
  • Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (9,536 ratings)

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Wicked  By  cover art

Wicked

By: Gregory Maguire
Narrated by: John McDonough
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Publisher's summary

Heralded as an instant classic of fantasy literature, Maguire has written a wonderfully imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch's point of view. More than just a fairy tale for adults, Wicked is a meditation on the nature of good and evil.

Elphaba is born with green skin, a precocious mind, and a talent for magic. An outcast throughout her childhood in Munchkinland, she finally begins to feel as though she fits in when she enters the University in the Emerald City. While she hones her skills, she discovers that Oz isn't the Utopia it seems. She sets out to protect its unwanted creatures, becoming known as the Wicked Witch along the way.

Narrator John McDonough draws you in to Maguire's magical world of witches and talking animals, making it possible to believe in a land somewhere over the rainbow.

©1995 Gregory Maguire (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A staggering feat of wordcraft." (Los Angeles Times)
"McDonough's excellent portrayals of Elphaba's outspoken, gravel-voiced nanny, Glinda's snobbish friends, and the wide-eyed, soft-spoken Dorothy make this excursion to Oz worthwhile." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Wicked

Average customer ratings
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Love the imagination used for this

I just finished the wizard of oz books with my students and then read this!!! it fits so well!! he kept to the "laws" of the story

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    3 out of 5 stars
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weird

I enjoyed the time period but the story was sometimes vulgar and vety weird. I have no idea how they ever made a musical from this material.

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Disjointed

It just didn't flow. I wish there would have been more meaning but maybe that's just me not knowing OZ very well.

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Must read! Amazing

This book is riveting. The characters, the plot, the story is remarkable. I definitely recommend this book to anyone!

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Slower than I remember

Loved this as a teen but listening to it as an adult it dragged on and on

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always another side to the story

she may not have been sweet but she want evil… other and a wow hiw everything was inter woven

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love this 📕

I love this book it was cool to listen to see how it's perceived by another hear the different vouces.

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Very well written

I loved the story from her view. Very well written and performed. I only judge from my view. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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John McDonough Does an AMAZING job of narration!

Having previously read this book, and it being one of my favorites, I was a bit leery of the audio version. However John McDonough soon put doubts to rest. He narrates perfectly, as though i was reading it for myself again! The voices! He even does the voices of each character with perfection. I love this book, both print and audio now. The imagination and detail Gregory Maguire have added to the story of the witch, has even made me see the original old oz movie differently. I don't like Dorothy or the Wizard anymore! Love Elphie!

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Love this Book!

I read this book when I was in high school and I have continued to re-read it every few years. I saw that audible was available so I decided to go ahead and take a chance. I was pleasantly surprised that I did remember most of the story, and I thought the narrator was quite good. if you were hoping for the same retelling as the musical, I warn you there are no happy endings here.

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