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  • Chronicles

  • Volume One
  • Written by: Bob Dylan
  • Narrated by: Sean Penn
  • Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

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Chronicles cover art

Chronicles

Written by: Bob Dylan
Narrated by: Sean Penn
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Publisher's Summary

Bob Dylan's Chronicles: Volume One explores the critical junctions in his life and career. Through Dylan's eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan's New York is a magical city of possibilities: smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times.

Revealing, poetical, passionate and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan's thoughts and influences. Dylan's voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful, and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.

©2004 Bob Dylan (P)2004 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

What the critics say

  • Audie Award Winner, Biography/Memoir, 2005
  • 2005 Quill Award Nominee
  • Grammy Award Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album, 2005

"Volume 1 of Dylan's memoirs was pretty cool to begin with. But to have it read by Sean Penn on audio takes it to a new level: the most talented songwriter of all time as performed by the most talented actor of his generation. Mr. Penn clearly has a blast inhabiting the role and navigating Dylan's jagged, impressionistic prose." (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Chronicles

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly good story telling

Bob Dylan provides you with some interesting windows into his life and career. His prose is compact but expressive. I learned some important aspects of his background

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellence

excellent and insightful view into the mind of Bob Dylan. Sean Penn nailed the tone of Bob's writing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Recollection Portrayed by Sean Penn

Sean Penn is perfect. He captures the essence of Bob Dylan's character. I just wish the book wasn't abridged. I wanted to hear more of this.

There is a lot of enigma surrounding Dylan but when he tells his story his personality is very straight talking. It doesn't destroy his mystique. It just means there is not pretense although you get the impression that Dylan is actually happy to destroy his mystique even if it is just for the heck of doing so. The counterculture protest movement was anxious to declare him as their leader, but Dylan was equally adamant not to go along. Here he paints a picture of him more intent on raising young children surrounded by toddler toys in his apartment while the counterculture crazies were banging on his door demanding that he lead them to an anti-war protest. To this, Dylan basically gave them the finger.

But mob pressures to dictate to Dylan were serious as he conveys here. It deeply angered him. Whether it was the folk music cult or the counter culture trying to hold him hostage to their cause, it ended up being their loss but also at a cost to Dylan too. The famous motorcycle accident ended up being used as an escape hatch to lie low until the winds started blowing in a different direction, but meanwhile everyone was deprived of what Dylan would have otherwise offered if they had not tried to suffocate him.

I recall being at Woodstock and thinking that Dylan lived just down the road, but did not agree to come and perform. I could guess at the reason, but I understand it more after having read this story.






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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Breaks Open a lot of the mystery and allure behind Bob Dylan

Sean Penn is tone-perfect for the story. Looks way behind the curtain, in his own words, on one of the greatest artists who remained purposefully mysterious and elusive his entire career. Very refreshing to hear Dylan be so open, honest and direct in regards to his inner life, history, experiences, upbringing and influences. Finally some of the mystery is revealed.

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