
The Song of Hiawatha - Henry W. Longfellow
Introductory Note
The Song of Hiawatha
Introduction
I The Peace-Pipe
II The Four Winds
III Hiawatha’s Childhood
IV Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis
V Hiawatha’s Fasting
VI Hiawatha’s Friends
Long, melodic verses weave the ancient tales of the Ojibway into a single, flowing song. The poem opens with a wandering bard, Nawadaha, who gathers the whispers of forests, lakes, and soaring birds to introduce Hiawatha’s world. Listeners are drawn into a landscape where pine‑scented breezes and river currents become part of the narration.
Early chapters follow the young hero’s quiet childhood, his fasting on the peace‑pipe and his first encounters with friends, fish, and the magical pearl‑feather. Longfellow’s rhythm, borrowed from the Finnish Kalevala, creates a steady, musical beat that feels like a drum echoing across the plains. The scenes of Hiawatha’s first loves, his wedding feast, and the blessing of the corn‑fields establish a tone of hope and communal harmony.
The listening experience is a tapestry of sound, where each line rolls like a gentle current and every image is painted with rich, natural detail. A first‑act journey through mythic beginnings invites anyone who loves storytelling rooted in nature and indigenous heritage to stay tuned for what follows.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (186K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1807–1882
A gentle, musical voice of 19th-century American poetry, he wrote works that generations of readers have remembered by heart, from "Paul Revere's Ride" to "The Song of Hiawatha." Beyond his fame as a poet, he also helped bring European literature to American readers through his teaching and translation.
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