The poet in a picture by Gustave Courbet.
Wikimedia Commons
His legacy connects a great swathe of modern popular culture.
‘Confessions of an English Opium-Eater’ was the first modern drug memoir and set the tone for opium use for decades. Here: Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy), a group of deep red flowers, buds and seed pods. Opium is extracted from the latex of the unripe seed pods. Ripe seeds are innocuous and widely used in baking.
(Rowan McOnegal/Wellcome Collection)
‘Confessions of an English Opium-Eater’ is considered the first modern drug memoir. Many believe it is responsible for our romantic ideas of opium-based drug use today.
Dylan: not leaning on his guitar.
Xavier Badosa via Flickr
He was criticised for leaning on the crutch of his guitar, but if Dylan leaned on anything, it was his love of poetry.