Publisher's Synopsis
Leonard Cohen is a world-famous poet and songwriter. Yet his early years between 1960-67, were a struggle for some form of literary success. This is a novel about and his journey in search of a bohemian world from Montreal, Paris and to Hydra, an island in Greece. Cohen left Canada in search of people who were involved in musical, artistic, literary, and spiritual pursuits; that were wanderers, adventurers, and vagabonds. Cohen grew up in French speaking, Quebec, His first novel, The Favourite Game sold very a few copies. His second book Beautiful Losers, explored Quebec separatism with France, and his fascination for the Canadian Indian Saint Catherine Tekakwitha and her virtues. He lived on Hydra for seven years as a struggling poet and novelist. But the idea that Hydra was paradise, or a theatre for dreamers, was not an accurate one. Some of the island's population had died from starvation during the Nazi occupation of Greece during the war. There was no electricity, and water had to be imported from the mainland. Many of the expats had to live on food credits including Leonard, from the local store. Their lives were in stark contrast to the various members of the jet set that arrived there in search of this 'lost paradise'. It was a hand to mouth existence set against the various social conflicts among the local and ex-pat community. Life was not a bed of roses for a struggling writer. Leonard fell in love with a married Norwegian woman named Marianne, whose husband Axel had engaged in 'free' love and new age philosophies. In 1967 the military took over Greece, and Leonard escaped the island. With the lack of success and interest in his novel, Beautiful Losers, Leonard turned to song writing. His friendship with Susanne Verdal in Montreal; inspired his first deeply spiritual song, that was inspired by their meeting. It was this song that saved his career and brought his music to a worldwide audience. and established him as a major poet and songwriter. The novel is an exploration of this journey, and the trials and tribulations of Leonard Cohen's struggles, in the early days of his career. What emerges is a man that had enough faith love and hope to pursue his vision in his poetic quest. It is the story too about the song Susanne and the belief in Saint Catherine -that saved him!
