Audiobook · read by volunteers
Scarecrow of Oz
L. Frank Baum (1856–1919)
Read by Scott Sherris, Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023), Kirsten Ferreri, Robert Flach, Cori Samuel, Claire Goget, Kevin McAsh, Patrick Beverley, Gesine, Mark F. Smith · 25 chapters · 5 h 03
About the book
Trot and Cap'n Bill, a little girl and her old sailor friend, are swept into a great whirlpool and carried down into a hidden cavern beneath the sea. From there they find their way to Jinxland, a strange kingdom ruled by a cruel king named Krewl, whose tyranny hangs over a young princess. Help arrives in the form of the Scarecrow of Oz himself, along with a clever, kindly comrade or two, and a number of comic obstacles. L. Frank Baum fills the story with tricks, jokes and unusual creatures. A large cast of volunteer readers, performing in a lively dramatic style, shares the twenty-five chapters of this cheerful fantasy for young and old. Humour, courage and a touch of magic carry the story from the sea floor to the land of Oz.
Introduction
L. Frank Baum was born in 1856 and died in 1919. After the success of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, he wrote a long series of books set in the same fairyland. The Scarecrow of Oz was published in 1915 and is the ninth in the series. Baum is said to have considered it his favourite among the Oz books, and he drew on two earlier characters, Cap'n Bill and Trot, from a different set of stories.
The book is built as a classic fairy tale, with a quest, a wicked ruler and a deserving heroine. Yet it is lighter and quicker than most such tales, and it never forgets to be funny. Baum's imagination is at its liveliest in the adventures along the way, and the Scarecrow, with his straw-stuffed good heart and sharp wits, takes charge of the plot once he arrives. Among its oddest inhabitants is the Ork, a flying creature who proves a loyal friend. Readers have long enjoyed the mixture of comedy and fantasy, and they continue to do so.
This LibriVox recording lasts about five hours and is divided into 25 chapters, including a foreword. The readers perform it in the manner of a dramatic reading, which suits the humour. It is an excellent choice for a family listening session.
The tale is gentle in tone, and its villains are more ridiculous than frightening, so it is a good choice for younger listeners. With a whole cast of readers, the dramatic approach brings out the comedy of dialogue, and the wordplay and the invented names add to the fun for older ones.
Public domain
L. Frank Baum died in 1919: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text