Author(s): Greil Marcus

Music

In 1965, one song defined a generation caught the questing spirit of the era and changed the rules of the possible in popular music for all time. At that point it was the longest hit single to be released, at six minutes and six seconds in length nearly three times longer than the average single. Greil Marcus's extraordinary book captures the heady atmosphere of the recording studio in 1965 as witnessed by many clustered around the mercurial genius from Minnesota, the young Bob Dylan. "Like a Rolling Stone" reconstructs the context in which the song first appeared, in terms of Dylan's own career and the world at large. It is an analysis and critique of an artist at the height of his creative powers and offers a unique insight into the mistakes and inspirations that occur when history is being made.