Tarantula.

DYLAN, Bob.

Item Number: 50037

Hibbing, MN: Wimp Press, 1966.

Mimeographed pirate edition of Dylan’s first book that wasn’t officially published until 1971. Octavo, 54 pages, original pages as issued. A very good example with the cover a little rubbed and marked, the staples buckled and not quite reaching through to the rear. The contents are clean throughout with mild toning at the margins. One of the several pirated editions of Dylan’s novel, taken from the Macmillan 1966 proofs after production was delayed, pre-dating the 1971 trade edition.

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.