Dali had many influences as it was a time of radical change in art and society the likes of which make today seem tame (at least from a cultural perspective). Try the surrealist writers and especially the film director Luis Bunel. Max Ernst was in L'age D'or.. the surrealist film by Bunel (which Dali had a MAJOR hand in) as well as the famous "Andalusian Dog" which Dali and Bunel made in collaboration. Bataille is a GREAT writer and friend/rival of Dali. Remember, Surrealism started as a writers movement and then transitioned to a visual art movment. Pay close attention to the DADA ists as well and their transition to the surreal in the late 20's and early 30's (Jean Arp, Kurt Schwitters, Jean Cocteau, etc..) as they were very influential to Dali. Read a few things about Andy Warhol and his relation to Dali..interesting stuff. Also, the emergence of the Post-Modern aesthetic was greatly influenced by Dali's "anything goes" attitude towards the visual. The Spectical was of utmost importance to him as well; try Guy Debored's "Society of the Spectical" for a good laugh.
my favorite Dali quote;
"I dont use drugs...I AM DRUGS!"
