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Mystery Train

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( 3,552 ratings, 173 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
'Mystery Train' by Greil Marcus delves into the profound influence of American music, particularly rock and roll, on the nation's culture and identity. The author examines seminal figures like Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, weaving their stories into the broader tapestry of American life. Through insightful analysis, Marcus connects music and myth, exploring how they shape, and are shaped by, societal changes and enduring cultural narratives.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by exploring the intersection of music and American culture, this book offers a captivating analysis of how rock 'n' roll reflects and shapes societal narratives. Delve into an engaging exploration of legendary musicians and the rich history they evoke, making it ideal for those who appreciate deeply contextualised storytelling in the realm of arts and culture.

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More than 20 years after its initial publication, Mystery Train remains one of the smartest, most provocative books ever written about rock-and-roll.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Mystery Train by Greil Marcus is universally acclaimed as the benchmark work of modern rock criticism. Marcus's study uses a handful of artists—a brace of bluesmen, The Band, Sly Stone, Randy Newman, and Elvis Presley—to illuminate and interpret the American Dream.

In rigorous prose, the book touches on the myth, landscape, and oral tradition of the continent. This comprehensive, revised edition is a milestone achievement in the effort to establish rock and roll as a fit subject for serious cultural criticism. It includes a new preface by the author.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571323173

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 June 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 488g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Greil Marcus was born in San Francisco in 1945. He is the author of Mystery Train, Invisible Republic, Lipstick Traces, Double Trouble and Bob Dylan: Writings 1968-2010 and the editor of Lester Bangs's Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung. In 1998 he curated the exhibition '1948' at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. He writes the Real Life Rock Top 10 column for The Believer and teaches at the New School in New York. He was described by John Rockwell in the New York Times as 'a writer of rare perception and a genuinely innovative thinker'. Greil Marcus lives in California.

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