reported by Dawn L. Hall, FictionFanatic.com

Simon & Schuster Audio announced a distinguished list of American film, television, and stage actors chosen to narrate the major works of literary giant Ernest Hemingway. Launching the series will be Donald Sutherland, narrating the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA; Campbell Scott, narrating FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS; and John Slattery, narrating A FAREWELL TO ARMS. Academy Award-winner William Hurt will narrate THE SUN ALSO RISES, to be published in October 2006 for the 80th anniversary of the original Scribner publication.

At the time of the original announcement, on February 15th, 2006, Patrick Hemingway, the author's son, had said, "I think that my father would have been pleased to have so many of his finest works published in audiobook form. Reading Hemingway is to listen to him, to 'hear' the dialogue. The spoken word versions will certainly add another dimension to his writing and will entice new audiences to his work."

Said Chris Lynch, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio. "Our Grammy Award-winning production team, led by Sandy Moore with unparalleled commitment from producers Elisa Shokoff, Carol Shapiro, and Travis Tonn, has succeeded in bringing together an amazing roster of accomplished actors for our Hemingway audio collection. All of us at Simon & Schuster Audio are very proud of this series-the most complete audio collection ever produced."

Following the May launch, subsequent titles in the unabridged audio collection are: A MOVEABLE FEAST, read by Tony Award-winner James Naughton (June 2006); ISLANDS IN THE STREAM, read by Bruce Greenwood (July 2006); and TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, read by Audie Award-winner Will Patton (August 2006). Narrators are yet to be announced for the fall and winter releases: ACROSS THE RIVER AND INTO THE TREES (September 2006); THE GARDEN OF EDEN (November 2006); GREEN HILLS OF AFRICA (December 2006); and DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON (January 2007).

Simon & Schuster Audio has already published to critical acclaim THE SHORT STORIES VOLUMES I, II, and III, read by Stacy Keach, and TRUE AT FIRST LIGHT, read by Brian Dennehy.

As previously announced, the deal brings all formats of Hemingway's books under one publisher. His works in printed and digital format are published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Spoken word editions of Hemingway's major works were previously available only for the library market. All titles will be available on unabridged CD as well for download.