Penn, Dylan: One Rebel Reads Another

by Shannon Maughan -- Publishers Weekly, 10/4/2004

Fans have long been waiting (for about four years) for folk/rock music icon Bob Dylan to put the finishing touches on his memoirs. At last, listeners and readers have something to celebrate. Dylan's Chronicles: Volume One, first in a series of Dylan-penned personal histories, is on its way to market with an October 5 pub date for both the Simon & Schuster hardcover and the abridged audiobook (four cassettes, six hours, $26; five CDs, $29.95). And who better to read the audiobook version —given that Dylan will not be doing it himself—than Oscar-winning actor and buck-the-system poster boy, Sean Penn.

"The first name on our list was Sean Penn," said Chris Lynch, executive v-p and publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio. "We knew he would be perfect for the material, and we are absolutely thrilled that an actor of his caliber will be reading Chronicles."

Volume One includes first-person narratives of significant periods and events in Dylan's life and career. The project, which wrapped up recording sessions on September 15, marks Penn's first foray into the audiobook world. Hopefully, it won't be his last, as there are probably more Chronicles to come (we just don't know when).