Taylor's Version

An original exploration and celebration of Taylor Swift, the worlds biggest music star, as taught at the worlds most prestigious university.

One of the biggest stars in the world, Taylor Swift became so popular for many reasons - but first and last thanks to her songs. In Taylors Version, award-winning literary critic Professor Stephanie Burt charts the extraordinary journey from Swifts teen country debut to her most recent record-breaking achievement as the highest-grossing touring artist in the world. Based on her Harvard University course, Taylor Swift and Her World, Burt offers the first serious study of Swift that pays close attention to her talent as a songwriter first and foremost.

Drawing from musical and cultural criticism, poetry, economic theory, American history, as well as personal experience, Burt presents an insightful and heartfelt critical appreciation of Swift that delves into her life, her celebrity and her artistry. She explores how Swifts musical and public persona reflect her life and her craft, at once intimate and relatable. She considers the international community Swifts work has fostered, and she shows what makes Swifts body of work so important across styles, genres and generations.

Tracing a path through the Eras, Taylors Version is a literary deep-dive into Swifts particular form of genius, revealing the remarkable impact of her career and showing how her songs - how music itself - can change lives.