This third edition provides a definitive retrospective appraisal of almost 40 years of work by one of the 20th century's most significant artists. The author provides, in this new edition, fresh material and analysis. The material both updates the book through 1999 and offers major new studies of Dylan's entire oeuvre: notably a vast study of Dylan's use of the huge body of pre-war blues lyric poetry, a major chapter on his adept and knowledgable use of nursery rhyme and a substantial scrutiny of Dylan's prolific use of the Bible. The album-by-album guide has been updated and extended.