Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood
- Narrated by:
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
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- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release Date:11-09-10
- Publisher: Audible Studios
A Signature Performance: Elijah Wood becomes the first narrator to bring a youthful voice and energy to the story, perhaps making it the closest interpretation to Twain’s original intent.
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Audible Editor Reviews
Elijah Wood’s performance is my nominee for the Narrators’ Hall of Fame. Wood’s unself-conscious reading doesn’t sound like a reading at all. He creates an entire world filled with people who cross class and color lines. His accents range from British to faux-British to all manner of regional affectations, twangs, and drawls. Wood’s delivery makes Mark Twain’s delicious wit and twisty language sound completely natural, especially as Huck invents plausible words to suit the moment. The journey down the Mississippi with Huck and Jim is pure pleasure, as the boy who won’t be "sivilized" and the runaway slave encounter scoundrels, slip out of scrapes, and invent outrageous tales. The listening couldn’t be better if Huck read the story himself.
Publisher's Summary
Audible is pleased to announce the premiere of an exciting new series, Audible Signature Classics, featuring literature’s greatest stories, performed by accomplished stars handpicked for their ability to interpret each work in a new and refreshing way. The first book in the series is Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, performed by Elijah Wood.
Ernest Hemingway said, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn". One hundred years after its author’s death, this classic remains remarkably modern and poignantly relevant. In this brand new edition, Elijah Wood reads Huck in a youthful voice that may be the closest interpretation to Twain’s original intent. His performance captures the excitement and confusion of adolescence and adventure. Best of all, the immediacy of Wood’s energetic reading sweeps listeners up and makes them feel as though they’re along for the ride, as Huck and Jim push their raft toward freedom.
Stay tuned for more one-of-a-kind performances from actors Kenneth Branagh, David Hyde Pierce, Leelee Sobieski, and more, only from Audible Signature Classics.
Listen to more Audible Signature Classics.
Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc.
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What Members Say
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"Worthy "signature" premiere"
Mr. Wood's narration starts slowly but builds in both intensity and humor. An hour or so in to the book, he hits his stride and never misses a beat from then on. I downloaded when it first became available although I thought that Elijah Wood was an odd choice for narrator. Instead I found he was a brilliant choice. The narration ranks with the best of Jeff Woodman; this is as good as it gets. The definitive version on audio which will probably never be surpassed.
37 of 37 people found this review helpful -
The Supreme Galooty Mist, OR, United States 03-11-11 Member Since 2015
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"Masterful Narration"
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is nonpareil, but Elijah Wood's dramatization verges on genius. His style brings nuance to the fore that was simply unavailable to me when I read the book (silently) to myself. It added color to an already colorful peice of work. Congratulations, Mr. Wood.
21 of 21 people found this review helpful -
Angelica Fort Myers, FL, United States 11-19-10 Member Since 2012
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"Elijah is truly amazing"
This is turning out to be one of my favorite audio books. Elijah's done an amazing job bringing this tale to life.
28 of 29 people found this review helpful -
"Full of rich Americana"
This absolute classic is brilliantly narrated by Wood who uses his talent to the extreme. I was duly impressed at Wood's lingual skills in navigating the dialect and accents. For those who have written reviews detesting the use of the "N" word, that's simply how they spoke in Twain's time. This novel brings you back to the lazy days of the mid 1800s in America and all that goes with it. If you paid attention in high school or college US History class, you'll understand the language of the time. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was on my high school reading list and I was hooked when I read it. I had read it twice more after school and was thrilled when it came out on audible.com. I was not disappointed by the treatment the audio transformation gave it. Highly recommend.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful -
"Wonderfully Narrated"
I already owned a different narration of "Huck Finn" when this one came out. After listening to the sample of Elijah Wood reading I had to buy this one. Was it worth it? It certainly was! What a difference an actor makes. His dialects and voices were wonderful and I was on that river with Huck and Jim.
24 of 25 people found this review helpful -
"You'll like it."
I hadn't read Huck Finn since I was a boy and had forgotten just how wonderful a book is. Wood does a very nice job reading - he handles the different accents quite well. I enjoyed it, so I reccommend it.
21 of 22 people found this review helpful -
"Fabulous"
Elijah Wood is very talented. Huck Finn is always gonna be a good listen, but the nuances Elijah Wood uses in his narration and the energy in his voice make this one of the most enjoyable audio books I have ever listened to. Make sure you listen carefully to Elijah's treatment of the dialect for "the King!" Check it out - you won't be disappointed!
9 of 9 people found this review helpful -
"Well worth listening to!"
I probably read Huckleberry Fin in High School, but that was 40 years ago. I was curious how well Elijah Wood would narrate the book and though it was one of the BEST books I have purchased so far. Elijah was very, very good at capturing the dialects and I did appreciate the original text, N word and all. I highly recommend this book. It is a classic that anyone would enjoy listening to.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful -
"Well read - Interesting Book"
I enjoyed listening to this book. It's shocking to hear the slang, the use of the n-word, and the prejudice demonstrated here by so many of the characters. But it is clear that Mark Twain was trying to capture time in a bottle, showing the language, customs, popular beliefs, However, the authordemonstrates his disapproval of the prejudice by the way the story unfolds. When Huck acts most prejudiced, he is trying to blend in with the crowd in order to help Jim. Jim ends up being the most noble character of all, with his self-less actions and deep sense of right and wrong. Elijah Wood was spot on with the reading. Worth the listen.
26 of 28 people found this review helpful -
Ilana Montreal, Quebec, Canada 04-17-12 Member Since 2016
Audiobooks have literally changed my life. I now actually ENJOY doing mindless chores because they give me plenty of listening time!
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"Delightful"
Huck Finn, finding himself stuck between the prospect of staying locked up with his drunken, abusive father or being taken under the wing of the Widow Douglas and her sister Miss Watson who want to "sivilize" [sic] him, decides to fake his own murder so he can roam free instead. He takes off on a raft and soon runs into Jim, Miss Watson's recently escaped slave, and together they go on a long adventure down the Mississippi river. I liked the beginning of the story where Finn describes his wretched father's ill treatment of him and his subsequent clever escape, but then wasn't much taken with the rest of the first half of the book about their times on the raft. But I'm glad I didn't follow my first impulse to give up, because the action that follows picks up considerably, when the two are joined by the "Duke" and "King".
"It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into no trouble. If they wanted us to call them kings and dukes, I hadn't no objections, 'long as it would keep peace in the family."
This section of the book was filled with one hilarious mad caper after another; the last section, where Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer devise plans to free Jim, who has meanwhile been taken prisoner by *well-meaning* folk who intend to return him to his 'rightful owners', is just delightful. I laughed out loud at Tom Sawyer's insistence on coming up with the most complicated schemes so that Jim's escape would be like what he's read about in adventure novels.
The repeated use of the "N" word and references to slavery at first disturbed me, but the historical context of the story and Twain's obvious abolitionist stance made them tolerable in the circumstances. Elija Wood's narration brought the colorful dialects to life and was generally wonderful—definitely recommended7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Brianwestfield cottage,blairgowrie,perthshireUnited Kingdom2/12/11
"a great reading!"
of course it's still 'huckleberry finn', a wonderful novel,alive with characters and colour and action.but this fine reading made it all the more enjoyable as the varying accents and speech rhythms are all part of the book's charm.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful -
PaulAbbots Bromley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom2/6/15
"A slow, meandering journey"
The performance is great and really brings all the characters alive with their distinctive Southern voices. The story, however, and I feel churlish in admitting this, had me a little bored at times. This is one of those I wanted to read and thereby cross it off the "books to read before you die" and am glad I have...but equally am glad to have finished it.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful -
Stephanie Janea caravan somewhere in Europe10/25/13
"Classic evocation of a particular era"
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great evocation of a particular era in American history. The attitudes displayed, especially towards race and slavery, are shocking to modern ears and I had to keep reminding myself that the book was not only set, but also written in a very different time and place. I loved the variety of characters, all very real yet memorably larger than life, and I’m sure Elijah Wood’s expert narration was a major part of my enjoyment. His portrayal of all the dialects and accents was fabulous. I think even Dickens would have been proud of the King and the Duke! Having not read any Mark Twain as a child, I expect some of the excitement of the adventures was lost on me – I did get a little bored by the intricacies of the plot at Aunt Sally’s – but the major part of the book detailing Huck’s escape from his abusive father and his and Jim’s journey down the river had me completely hooked and even a little envious at times.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful -
PeterBeulah, United Kingdom1/18/11
"A great adventure story"
In its own right, this book is a simple, first-person adventure story and greatly enjoyable. Written in 1884, it incorporates the attitudes and culture of the time and as it is set in the deep south during a time of racial inequality, there are attitudes, expressions and words used that may shock or offend some people. This book is now a historical reference to a time gone by. The current debate regarding one US publishers decision to remove racial terminology from it has brought this book into the news for all the wrong reasons. People should be allowed to witness history unsullied by current obsessions with political correctness - witnessing both right and wrong is what educates us.
The narration by Elijah Wood is excellent. His youthful voice and excellent characterisation make this a great listening experience.11 of 12 people found this review helpful -
Amazon Customer12/3/14
"Elijah Wood is superb!"
If you could sum up Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood in three words, what would they be?Authentic, engrossing, nostalgic
What was one of the most memorable moments of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood?Elijah's Wood's amazing variety of accents.
Which scene did you most enjoy?The drifting down the Mississippi past St Louis.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?It made me think back to childhood when I last read this book, and reminded me what a great book it is.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
Fredbear12/1/14
"Classically Wonderful."
Where does Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?This is a very good rendering of the classic Mark Twain story concerning Huckleberry Finn. Elijah Wood brings the text to life with a sensitive reading and a very good attempt at differentiating the various dialects spoken by the many beautifully drawn characters.
What other book might you compare Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood to, and why?Most of us are aware of this story as the sequel to Tom Sawyer, and in many cases it has been studied as literature in school. This reading of the book repairs some of the damage done by poor English teaching, in that the story is made accessible and enjoyable without all the dissection done in literature classes.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?Speaking as someone who has had books 'ruined' in such ways, it was delightful to just listen to the story on its own merits and as such it showcased Mark Twain's wit and his astute observation of human nature.
Any additional comments?It is an absolute joy to add this to my library as a book to listen to again and again purely for the joy of the storytelling without having to worry about O Level grades!! (and yes, that does show my age!)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
GenKan8/8/14
"Elijah Wood saves the day"
Would you try another book written by Mark Twain or narrated by Elijah Wood?Elijah yes, Twain no
Didnt like the book, couldnt relate and it just didnt speak to me.
Has Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood put you off other books in this genre?not really, next time Im going way more fantasy
Could you see Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?I dont think so
3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
EvieBIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom4/14/13
"Huck Finn"
It's been a long time since I read Huckleberry Finn, and I had forgotten how much depth there was in the novel, and how much Mark Twain used it to attack the issues and attitudes related to slavery in the Southern States. The movingly, if unsentimentally depicted friendship between Huck and Jim, whom he helps to escape from slavery, and Huck's ruminations on how very sinful he must be to 'steal' Jim from Miss Watson are, even now, powerful indictments against racism.
Elijah Wood is an ideal narrator for this tale, which is, more than anything, good fun.3 of 3 people found this review helpful -
nenglesberg2/7/15
"Great read"
Everyone should read this book ,
And Elijah Wood dose a fantastic job reading this book ,
I think people should listen to this .2 of 2 people found this review helpful -
Alex3/15/15
"Very Good Narration!"
Where does Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?It was very well narrated.
Have you listened to any of Elijah Wood’s other performances? How does this one compare?I have not but this one us very good.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?For me it took 3 sittings, about 3 hours each.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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