Leonard Cohen: Exploring the scriptures behind Cohen’s musical pilgrimage

Harry Freedman’s diligent and lucid book examines the Jewish and Christian sources Cohen mined for his songwriting

In Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius, Harry Freedman examines the Jewish and Christian sources that Cohen mined and traces how he wove these traditions into his songwriting

MUSIC

Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius

By Harry Freedman

Bloomsbury, €20.25

Leonard Cohen’s musical career frequently tested his faith. After making his debut album in 1967, he couldn’t get an agent because he was deemed too old at 32. The first time that he played live, he got stage fright. His voice failed, he was unable to tune his guitar and halfway through his set he walked off.

Cohen’s song Hallelujah has become ...