In the letter that accompanied the review copy of 'Isaiah For Guitar,' the author describes this updated version of his book as being, "bigger and bouncier; expanded, revamped and readable". Well, having managed to find the time to read most, if not all of the book, before passing it on to Michael Gray for review, I have to say that I concur with all of the above statements.

The original edition titled 'Isaiah On Guitar' (I prefer the revised title), was published in 1991 by Valis Books and contained just 48 pages. This 2nd edition with its 102 pages (though I should point out that the text is rather large), is without question "bigger and bouncier". The new revamped presentation is certainly far superior, and on the last count I found the book very readable indeed.

Robin has dug up new information regarding Tom Paine and The Wicked Messenger and also has managed to track down a lot of interesting facts on gunfighter Hardin, including a copy of an original newspaper report on the life and death of this notorious gunfighter.

Apparently, after killing some 40 men Wes Hardin eventually fell foul of a somewhat shady lawman by the name of John Selman. Hardin met his fate in of all places the Acme Saloon, the headlines read: "Wes Hardin is Killed - This Noted Character Dies by John Selman's Pistol - The Fate Of All Bad Killers".

'Isaiah For Guitar' is A5 in size and has a rather nice cover that I know will not reproduce well here. I believe the characters on the cover to be Bob Dylan flanked by Preacher John Wesley and the young gunslinger John Wesley Hardin, with a shadowy, almost spectral image of the dead Wes Hardin hovering above.

For a rather more in-depth review of this book see the Michael Gray review column, "Searching For a Gem" elsewhere in this issue of ISIS .

'Isaiah For Guitar' is privately published by Exploding Rooster Book and is available from Dylan mail order specialists 'My Back Pages', priced £8.35.