Flynn to narrate W&N's Octopus Man audiobook

Actor Johnny Flynn, who starred in "Beast" and "Emma", will narrate the audiobook of The Octopus Man by Jasper Gibson. The audiobook will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 21st January 2021, alongside the hardback and e-book editions. 

The synopsis reads: "Deeply moving and tragicomic, The Octopus Man takes us into the complex world of voice-hearing in a bravura literary performance that asks fundamental questions about belief, meaning and love."
 
Paul Stark, senior audio manager, said: "This is an absolutely extraordinary book, and in Johnny Flynn we have a fantastic voice who gives the writing an extra dimension."

Flynn commented: "The Octopus Man was a joy to read. I cried with laughter and I just plain cried. It is one of the wittiest and most humane pictures of a person and their mind—a timely conversation about mental health from within the perspective of the subject. It’s a beautiful book and so incredibly funny. It was astounding to me how funny it was sometimes."

Gibson added: "I had Johnny Flynn’s voice in my head while I was writing, so this doesn’t get any better for me. One of the leading actors of his generation, his voice—both ethereal and earthy, gentle yet ravaged—is perfect for a character who has spent 20 years on heavy medication talking to a primordial sea-god."

Flynn most recently appeared in "Emma" (2020) as George Knightley, and is probably best known for his role opposite Jessie Buckley in the Bafta-nominated psychological thriller "Beast" (2017). Flynn's band, Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, has released four studio albums.