Through the lens of four seminal concerts,
acclaimed poet and biographer Daniel
Mark Epstein offers an intimate, nuanced
look at Bob Dylan: a vivid, full-bodied
portrait of one of the most influential artists
of the twentieth century, from his birth to
the Never Ending Tour.
Beginning with 1963's Lisner Auditorium
concert in Washington, D.C., Epstein revisits
Dylan's astonishing rise as the darling of
the folk revival, focusing on the people and
books that shaped him, and his struggle to
find artistic direction on the road in the
1960s. Madison Square Garden, 1974, sheds
light on Dylan's transition from folk icon
to rock star, his family life in seclusion,
his subsequent divorce, and his highly anticipated
return to touring. Tanglewood,
1997, reveals how Dylan revived his flagging
career in the late 1990s-largely
under the influence of Jerry Garcia-discovering
new ways of singing and connecting
with his audience, and assembling the great
bands for his Never Ending Tour. In a
breathtaking account of the Time Out of Mind
sessions, Epstein provides the most complete
picture yet of Dylan's contemporary work
in the studio, his acceptance of his laurels,
and his role as the Éminence grise of
rock and roll today. Aberdeen, 2009, brings
us full circle, detailing the making of Dylan's
triumphant albums of the 2000s, as well as
his long-running radio show.
Drawing on anecdotes and insights from
new interviews with those closest to the
man-including Maria Muldaur, Happy Traum,
D. A. Pennebaker, Nora Guthrie, Ramblin' Jack
Elliott, and Dylan's sidemen throughout the years-The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a singular
take on an artist who has transformed generations
and, as he enters his eighth decade,
continues to inspire and surprise today.