The Song of Hiawatha


Read by Peter Yearsley

(4.8 stars; 103 reviews)

I sing the Song of Hiawatha,
Brave of heart and strong of arm.
Daughter's son of old Nokomis,
Fathered by the harsh West Wind.

With its regular, beating rhythm, the Song of Hiawatha has often been parodied, but in truth, it is a powerful, emotional epic; a hero's life, his loves and suffering. The legends and traditions of the North American Indian swirl together through the tale like a mountain stream, tumbling white over the rocks, and caressing the mossy tree roots.
(Summary by Peter Yearsley)
[introduction by Woodrow Morris] (3 hr 55 min)

Chapters

Introduction 7:31 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Peace-pipe 7:01 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Four Winds 12:52 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Childhood 10:32 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis 12:32 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Fasting 12:46 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Friends 7:59 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Sailing 6:26 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Fishing 9:32 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather 12:51 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Wooing 12:16 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Wedding Feast 10:06 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Son of the Evening Star 16:33 Read by Peter Yearsley
Blessing the Cornfields 10:36 Read by Peter Yearsley
Picture-Writing 8:03 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Lamentation 9:30 Read by Peter Yearsley
Pau_Puk_Keewis 10:47 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis 14:58 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Death of Kwasind 5:21 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Ghosts 9:18 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Famine 8:05 Read by Peter Yearsley
The White Man's Foot 9:49 Read by Peter Yearsley
Hiawatha's Departure 10:31 Read by Peter Yearsley

Reviews

Hiawatha


(5 stars)

If you have never listened to Hiawatha except for the bits you learnt at school , you must try this - it's a great reading of a great poem - warning , you might need a tissue in places. A must listen

PLEASURE


(5 stars)

It is all too easy to overlook Longfellow's greatness. Reading HIAWATHA is all that is needed as a reminder. This narrator's rendering cannot be surpassed.

Wonderful movement of words


(5 stars)

The narration is so enjoyable to listen to. I plan to share this treasure of Longfellow's with my grandchildren.

Great Reading


(5 stars)

Great reading of this title by Peter Yearsley.

Perfect


(5 stars)

A fantastic poem with great production quality that shares one of Maine's gifts to the world: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, grandson of Revolutionary War hero Peleg Wadsworth and nephew of Henry Wadsworth who fought and died at Tripoli. It is beautiful and compelling with information about Native American beliefs. The final section, however, does not age well and says Hiawatha left because European settlers were so incredible and wise that he is no longer needed and, essentially, that they should hold dominion over Native Americans. I highly suggest this to students but it should be discussed in class with comparisons being made between the story and reality.

An epic story well told and well read


(5 stars)

A stirring tale of heroism and myth, and the reading is slow, melodic, and neither over dramatic or understated. Judged against the norms of hos own culture, this story is laudable for portraying an indigenous North American culture as han and noble. Judged against modern norms it is deeply problematic appropriations and the last chapters were apologetic of colonializaton. Worth a listen, if nothing more than to better understand the Myth of the Noble Savage that was so prevalent in Romantic literature.

Superb


(5 stars)

Beautiful. This man could make a phone book sound enchanting. I thoroughly enjoyed this recording.

A+ 10/10


(5 stars)

very pretty poetry, and interesting folkloric story