Wicked Messenger: Bob Dylan And the 1960s Paperback – October 4, 2005

I have been waiting for a book with this level of political sophistication for a long time. It's finally here. Marqusee sees the politics in America in the 1960s in its complexity, and Dylan's music equally so. As a result, he avoids the cliches about both and teases out many new insights and comments. Bravo! An especially important book for young activists. Marqusee clears away the romance and the clutter of those years so that you can better appreciate the difficulty of struggle today. And at the same time, he clears the way for you to find companionship in Dylan's music from that time. (Review of earlier edition of this book, “Chimes of Freedom”.)

I bought this for a project I'm doing on Bob Dylan. It combines historical information, Dylan's own quotes and explanations about his songs and other interpretations and reactions to his music at different stages. A good picture of the conflict between his influence on the protest movements and his denial of his role or responsibility as an activitist.

This book is arresting in its intelligence and exceptional prose. It is a must-read book about Dylan's political development. Marquesee is a careful listener and has grasped the zeitgeist of the age.Marquesee clearly sympathizes with Dylan's use of song as a political weapon, and he explains with great zeal and fervor how Dylan wielded that weapon. I think he misses an emerging spiritual consciousness in Dylan's songs, though, by the exclusive focus on the politics.Still, anyone who wishes to understand the political world in which Dylan sang should read this book for its keen insights and unfailingly precise language.--Lawrence J. Epstein, author of Political Folk Music in America from Its Origins to Bob Dylan

This book is very interesting!!!! It provides a wonderful background of the period of time that influenced Bob Dylan's life and music. The book describes the history behind his songs and the history of what was going on in America during that era. It was more than I expected and I could hardly put the book down.

Astute, honest and insightful take on turbulent and trying times. Love the Shelley, Blake and Thoreau quotes...Dylan's forebears, ever present in our Bard's lyrics.

I purchased this book without knowing that the author's focus was at least as much on politics as Bob Dylan. I thought I was buying a Dylan biography but was greatly disappointed. In case others may be misled by the packaging please know that the author is so devoted to adulation of socialist/communist/left wing politics that Bob Dylan the person, songwriter, musician and performer is definitely secondary. Although the book was reasonably well-written and appears to have been researched the author's unwavering obsession with politics and his overt political bias is quite annoying. If you are a political partisan you might like the book. If you think you are buying a biography of Bob Dylan you may be disappointed.

Have you ever wondered where Bob Dylan got some of his inspiration?Have you ever wondered what went on behind the scenes when the politically active youth culture was born in the 60's?Starting with stories about Bob's relationships with the "Dust Bowl Balladeers" and wandering along with the concert tours and digging deep into the history of SNCC (Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and SDS ( Students for a Democratic Society), and everywhere else that was relevant this book masterfully chronicles the connection between the songs and times of the 60's and beyond.The reader is treated to a deep view of what was going on as many of Bob's most beloved songs were written. You are given a clear picture of why Bob was such an honest and faithful reflection of our times and has become America's favorite balladeer.I have to say that I think the title is unfortunate, there is nothing "Wicked" about this messenger. The things he protests are outrageous things and he finds exactly the right words and the courage to sing them out with songs that can not be ignored. He also has made some of the most touching and romantic love songs that I have ever heard. I'm very glad to have been able to see some of the background behind his inspiration.Finally, I understand why Bob was not at Woodstock, why he "went electric", what went on during the London tours, who was the "girl on that album cover", and many other things.This is clearly a fascinating book that has helped me to better understand the times that I lived through even better.

This is the revised and updated version of the book "Chimes of Freedom".I am a huge Dylan fan, and I am fascinated with rock and roll and it's history, so I was pretty excited to find this book, and it totally delivered the goods. Taking what is arguably Dylan's most intensely creative period (from 1962 to about 1967), Marqusee places the songs in the historical context where they were written and performed, giving younger Dylan fans like me a very fresh take on the music. He also goes into details about Dylan's sudden rise to fame and subsequent fall from grace with the more traditional folk musicians. Unlike other so-called Dylan experts who attempt to decode his lyrics and analyze the very mercurial singer, Marqusee shows a great respect for Dylan's boundaries, and while he very intelligently brings to light some of the songs' meaning, he refrains from over-doing it, leaving in some of the mystery just unresolved enough.I finished this book very satisfied, and I now listen to some of my favorite tunes with a new ear, and it makes them even better. I recommend this book to any fan of Dylan, and mostly to those who want a closer look at an important time of cultural and social changes, and the effect it had on one of the greatest musician of the century.

There are numerous books out there about Dylan. Biographies, critiques and attempts at song analysis. What happened when Dylan became a born again Christian, Dylan in relation to his Jewish culture, Bob Dylan and philosophy. And, to be honest, I've read an awful lot of them. I'm not sure any of them were worthwhile. Entertaining to be sure, informative to an extent but did they nail our elusive hero? Not really, as frustratingly ambiguous as the man himself.But, as they say, the exception proves the rule and here in Mike Marqusee's The Wicked Messenger is that exception. Please be warned this is a serious book which those of you without a background in American Studies and Cultural Theory may find testing but I do recommend that you stay with it. The author presents, ultimately, a clear understanding of Dylan's work in a cultural and political context, something that, in my opinion has eluded previous writers whose bafflement expresses itself as incoherence.One of the very few books I've finished reading and immediately turned back to the beginning to read again. Engrossing, inspiring The Wicked Messenger is written by an excellent author whose insights spread far wider than any other commentator.

Good.

I was a teenager when he was - he helped to bring me up. He was far ahead of me.I grew up different because he was there.

Bob Dylan book outstanding and such good value.