Through the lens of four seminal concerts, acclaimed poet and biographer Daniel Mark Epstein offers an intimate, vivid, and comprehensive portrait of Bob Dylan. Beginning in 1963, Epstein revisits Dylan's early struggles to find artistic direction; his transition from folk icon to rock star; and his secluded family life and divorce. A breathtaking account of Dylan's Never Ending Tour and his contemporary studio sessions brings us full circle, revealing how Dylan revived a flagging career and accepted his role as the eminence grise of rock and roll today.Drawing on new interviews with those closest to Dylan--including Maria Muldaur, Nora Guthrie, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott--The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a singular take on an artist who has transformed generations and continues to inspire and surprise today.