8 Behind The Shades

You say: “A captivating and thoroughly interesting read. Heylin is fastidious.”

Ben James, on Facebook

In a crowded field, Heylin is Dylan’s Boswell and Behind The Shades his masterly overview. First published in 1991, 2011’s edition adds 60,000 words and he’s just published The Double Life Of Bob Dylan, the first of a new two-volume expanded bio. Like Dylan, Heylin’s not finished – he’s mused that he’s akin to Captain Ahab pursuing MobyBob. Sometimes knocked for being a critic as much as a biographer, few, if any, have devoted as many years thoroughly poring over the artist’s

and archives.