Dunbar Out Loud Audiobook By Paul Laurence Dunbar cover art

Dunbar Out Loud

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Dunbar Out Loud

By: Paul Laurence Dunbar
Narrated by: Bobby Norfolk
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $4.95

Buy for $4.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

 Here are a baker's dozen of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poems brought to life in the medium he always wrote for - the spoken word. As narrated by Bobby Norfolk, these poems evoke the range of moods, from elegy to wonder to celebration, that the poet is remembered for.

Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872, to parents who were both former slaves. From this humble and impoverished background, he went on to achieve international recognition for his work, which he alternately rendered in African-American dialect and in standard English. His work was popular with both black and white readers. Though he died of tuberculosis at the age of 33, his output was prolific. Before his death, he published 12 poetry collections, four short-story collections, one play, and five novels.

(P)2004 August House Publishers, Inc. Biographies Literature & Fiction Poetry Poetry & Nursery Rhymes Primary Education
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup

Editorial reviews

This poetry collection has something for everyone - the admonitions of an exasperated mother rousting her child in the morning, the spine-tingling teasing of the bogeyman, the fleeting memory of the first rose of love, the profound sadness and injustice of sons, fathers, and husbands going off to war, and the excited cheer of a special picnic. Dunbar wrote of the African-American experience at the turn of the twentieth century. Storyteller Bobby Norfolk brings this poetry to life for the 21st-century listener. The stories are written to be heard, and Norfolk tells the stories, illuminates poignant thoughts, and captures photographic moments through pacing, inflection, musical intonation, and African-American dialect. His interpretation complements the energy and depth of Dunbar's work.

Critic reviews

"The rich and descriptive poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar come alive as they are performed by three-time Emmy winner Bobby Norfolk. Listeners are transported to the American South in the era around the Civil War through dialect and the themes of the poems." (School Library Journal)
"This poetry collection has something for everyone - the admonitions of an exasperated mother rousting her child in the morning, the spine-tingling teasing of the bogeyman, the fleeting memory of the first rose of love, the profound sadness and injustice of sons, fathers, and husbands going off to war, and the excited cheer of a special picnic." (AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant  
I have deprived myself of so much literary enthusiasm for fear that I would lose my way.

Beautiful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My favorite poem was ruined by this very very poor narration.
Fifteen words, fifteen words, fifteen words.

Great poems, bad narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In his short, productive life Paul Dunbar wrote novels, short stories, 11 volumes of poetry, and a libretto or two. This brief sampling has a heavy dose of poems in a rural dialect with a few in standard English. The author and the narrator (Bobby Norfolk) show great respect for the rural speakers in the poems and for the natural rhythm and musicality of the words.
Dunbar's poetry and prose span the range of human emotions from pathos to ecstasy -sometimes in the same work. His genius shines through his characters and stories. This brief collection is a good starting place to explore that genius.

A Short sample from one of America's best authors

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Absolutely great quality in voice, in word and spirit!!! I highly recommend giving this a listen :)

Superb recitation of a formidable poet :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
There were no struggle moments. This is absolutely awesome! I loved all of it! The writer captures your attention and the narrator brings to life those words the more. Awesome!!!!

Super Entertaining!!! Wonderful!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.