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The concept that dare not speak its name

by
September 2009, no. 314

The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan edited by Kevin J.H. Dettmar

Cambridge University Press, $39.95 pb, 185 pp

The concept that dare not speak its name

by
September 2009, no. 314

Following years of debates with people who denied that Bob Dylan was worthy of serious literary study, I eventually conceded, albeit in a somewhat roundabout fashion. Having brought enjoyment and illumination to millions of people, what on earth had Dylan done to deserve being beaten about the head by literary criticism? But after a hiatus, The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan has brought me up to date with the field of Dylan studies, and I can confidently declare that there is hope. This collection consists of nine ‘big picture’ essays on subjects such as Dylan as songwriter, Dylan and collaboration, Dylan and gender, and so on, followed by shorter pieces on eight of Dylan’s most influential albums (how they chose from the fifty-odd on offer is anyone’s guess).

The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan

The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan

edited by Kevin J.H. Dettmar

Cambridge University Press, $39.95 pb, 185 pp

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