Bob Dylan: Jewish Roots, American Soil

(Paperback)

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From the day that Bobby Zimmerman first turned on the radio in his parents home in Hibbing, hed had a pretty good idea that big things were happening, that old values were changing, that something new was on the way.

Bob Dylan arrived in New York one winter morning in 1961. His music and spirit would go on to capture the hearts and minds of a generation, but what no one knew then was that, like so many before him, Dylan was concealing his Jewish origins.

For Harry Freedman, Dylans roots are the key to grasping how this complete unknown burst onto the scene and reinvented not only himself, but popular music. The instinct for escape and reinvention has defined Dylans long career.

In this insightful biography Freedman traces the heady atmosphere of the 1960s and the folk-rock revolution spearheaded by Dylan. Right up until the moment in 1966 when Dylan stepped out onto the stage and went electric exploring how his musical decisions, genius for reinvention and his Jewishness go inescapably hand in hand.

Reviews

[Harry Freedman] scrupulously dissects the historical and cultural influences that shaped Bob Dylans music career. A meticulous exploration of one of Americas most influential musicians. * Publishers Weekly *
A comprehensive traversal of the folk-rock singer/songwriters early creative years. This title approaches Dylan from an intriguing perspective and demonstrates what made him unique and how he stood out from the crowd. This biography rewards Dylanists and those interested in the developing folk scene and cultural milieu of the 1960s. * Library Journal *

Author Bio

Harry Freedman is Britains leading author of popular works of Jewish culture and history. His books include Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius, Shylock's Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice's Jews and the Ghetto, The Talmud: A Biography, Britain's Jews: Confidence, Maturity, Anxiety and Kabbalah: Secrecy, Scandal and the Soul.