Sean Latham

The World of Bob Dylan, edited by Sean Latham, is an enlightening collection of essays looking at Dylan from many different perspectives. Taken separately, the essays are interesting, but together they offer something for every Dylan fan and quite a lot for those interested in him in relation to other topics.

I won't rehash every essay, this isn't a book report, but I will say that the book touches on his influences and his influence, both musically and societally. In the process there is a lot of biographical information but, obviously, a collection of essays is not a biography. If you truly want some insight beyond just what happened in his life and career, this will offer a great deal. If you think insight is just more trivia about a person's life, well, there is some of that here but it isn't what is highlighted nor is that what the book is about.

I have enjoyed several books recently, well, past year or so, that look at a person's life and career through various essays. I am finding such books very interesting because, as long as you know the basic biography of the figure, the essays offer deep looks at focused aspects. The two that jump to mind are 42 Today about Jackie Robinson and Long Walk Home about Bruce Springsteen. If you're looking for something about a figure that goes a bit beyond simply a life story, these types of collections seem, to me, to offer a great deal. Admittedly, these are no substitute for a good biography, more like a wonderful supplement.

In addition to fans of Dylan, I would recommend this to readers interested in the intersection of popular culture with social justice as well as the interplay between different musical genres and between music and literature.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mais)