Tarantula.

DYLAN, Bob.

$14,500.00

Item Number: 60050

Madison, Wisconsin: Wimp Press, c. 1966.

First pirated edition of Dylan’s first book. Octavo, original wrappers as issued. Signed by Bob Dylan in a contemporary hand on the title page. One of the earliest pirated editions of Dylan’s novel, taken from the Macmillan 1966 proofs after production was delayed, pre-dating the 1971 trade edition. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Scarce and desirable signed by Dylan.

Written in 1966, Tarantula is a collection of poems and prose that evokes the turbulence of the times in which it was written, and gives a unique insight into Dylan's creative evolution. It captures Bob Dylan's preoccupations at a crucial juncture in his artistic development, showcasing the imagination of a folk poet laureate who was able to combine the humanity and compassion of his country roots with the playful surrealism of modern art. Angry, funny, and strange, the poems and prose in this collection reflect the concerns found in Dylan's most seminal music: a sense of protest, a verbal playfulness and spontaneity, and a belief in the artistic legitimacy of chronicling everyday life and eccentricity on the street.