Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival

The guitarist's guitarist and the songwriter's songwriter, the legendary Bert Jansch has influenced stars as diverse as Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Donovan, Pete Townshend, Neil Young, Bernard Butler, Beth Orton, and Devendra Banhart. Unassuming, enigmatic, and completely focused on his music, he has remained singularly resilient to the vagaries of fashion, being rediscovered and revered by new generations of artists every few years.

Born in Edinburgh in 1943, Jansch became an inspirational and pioneering figure during Britain's 'folk revival' of the 1960s. In 1967 he formed the folk/jazz fusion band Pentangle with John Renbourn and enjoyed international success until they split in 1973, when he returned to a solo career. Surviving alcoholism and heart surgery, Jansch has more recently enjoyed a significant career renaissance – delivering a series of acclaimed albums from 1995 onwards which have truly secured his standing as one of the true originals of British music.

`A feast for anyone interested in Jansch or the 1960s' Scotsman

`A work of considerable importance ... intuitive and informed' Q Magazine

`An excellent biography of one of folk's cult figures ... Harper's narrative is first-rate' Independent on Sunday

`Compulsive reading' Folk Roots