Bob Dylan is indisputably one of the major musicians of our time. He is a complicated and paradoxical figure that defies categorization. Although his work has undergone some ironic transmutations over the years, his musical development has often been a response to his rebellious and restless nature and refusal to be a political icon. For Dylan, the times are always changin' and no moss will gather under his rolling stone.

Mike Marqusee is the author of a number of books on politics and popular culture, including, Redemption Song, an acclaimed study of Muhammad Ali. His most recent book on Bob Dylan is Wicked Messenger. An American, he has lived in London for 30 years.