Few in popular music have had as varied a career and as lasting an impact as Bob Dylan, whose songs have entered the cultural consciousness in a way that sonic have called revolutionary. In this bold and comprehensive new stud y- the definitive guide to Dylan"s work - author Larry David Smith explores the convergence of biography, artistic philosophy, and musical style in Bob Dylan"s oeuvre. Making the case that "Bob Dylan" is actually a persona carefully crafted by its maker, the former Robert Zimmerman of Hibbing, Minnesota, "Writing Dylan" represents a new and authoritative contribution to the study of this key figure of the contemporary era. Smith, who was granted unprecedented use of Dylan"s lyrics in his analysis, interprets Dylan"s narratives, characters, plots, and values, and reveals the artist"s mission-oriented approach to art. "Writing Dylan" tackles each period of its subject"s five-decade career, offering an inventive and unprecedented investigation of Dylan"s artistic...