LEONARD COHEN: The Mystical Roots of Genius

Freedman uncovers the spiritual traditions that lie behind Leonard Cohen's profound and unmistakable lyrics, behind darkness there is light and in the midst of hatred there is love, and with our dying breath we can sing Hallelujah. The Canadian singer and poet Leonard Cohen was deeply learned in Judaism and Christianity, the spiritual traditions that underpinned his self-identity and the way he made sense of the world. His music is studded with allusions to Jewish and Christian tradition, to stories and ideas drawn from the Bible, the Talmud and Kabbalah. From his 1967 classic 'Suzanne' through masterpieces like 'Hallelujah' and 'Who By Fire' to his final challenge to the divinity, 'You Want It Darker', he drew on spirituality for inspiration and as a tool to create understanding, clarity and beauty. Later Cohen became immersed in Zen Buddhism, moving in 1990 to a Zen monastery in California where he remained for some years. Returning to live shows after financial difficulties, Cohen performed several worldwide tours later in life, including concerts in Dublin and London and died on the day before Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Freedman explores song by song how Cohen reworked myths and prayers, legends and allegories. The reader will be left with a powerful understanding of Cohen's life story, together with a far broader insight into the mystical origins of his inimitable work, regardless of our faithful spiritual background. Colour photos, 274pp with index of song titles.