Titled with a nod to Leonard Cohen’s description of Dylan as the “Picasso of Song,” Gregory’s work combines scholarly insight with the passion of a dedicated fan. Minstrel Boy explores a period of great transformation for Dylan, covering his retreat from the limelight, his creative resurgence in the 1970s, and his unexpected spiritual rebirth. The book draws on a wide range of cultural influences, from William Blake to gospel music, and includes lively descriptions of Dylan’s live performances.
Gregory, who is also the host of the popular podcast “Bob Dylan: A Headful of Ideas,” explained that the book is written to be accessible to fans and general readers alike. He brings his extensive knowledge of various music genres to the text, commenting in detail on the influence of folk, blues, country, gospel, and rock and roll on Dylan’s work.
This second volume is divided into three parts: “Retreat,” which explores Dylan’s introspection from 1967-1973; “Return,” which examines his creative comeback from 1974-1978; and “Rebirth,” which covers his spiritual conversion and subsequent artistic pivots from 1979-1990. Gregory’s trilogy, written in reverse chronological order, is shaping up to be a definitive and comprehensive study of one of music’s most complex and enduring figures.
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