Staff Pick
Cohen himself decried his poetry for a lack of sophistication. Yet, his body of work reveals the beauty of losers, the longing in loneliness, and what is illuminated by the light that gets through the crack in everything. If we can grant him that same grace, then it is easy to accept that a poem need not be perfect to be beautiful. Recommended By Brandon S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Leonard Cohen wrote the poems in Book of Longing—his first book of poetry in more than twenty years—during his five-year stay at a Zen monastery on Southern California's Mount Baldy, and in Los Angeles, Montreal, and Mumbai. This dazzling collection is enhanced by the author's playful and provocative drawings, which interact in exciting, unexpected ways on the page with poetry that is timeless, meditative, and often darkly humorous. An international sensation, Book of Longing contains all the elements that have brought Cohen's artistry with language worldwide recognition.
Review
“. . .alive and contradictory. . . you should read the whole volume. . .” LA Weekly
Review
“Book of Longing has exceptional range. It is clear yet steamy, cosmic yet private, both playful and profound.” New York Times
Synopsis
An iconic poetry collection from American luminary Leonard Cohen, containing some of his most significant verse
Leonard Cohen wrote the poems in Book of Longing--his first book of poetry in more than twenty years after 1984's Book of Mercy--during his five-year stay at a Zen monastery on Southern California's Mount Baldy, and in Los Angeles, Montreal, and Mumbai. This dazzling collection is enhanced by the author's playful and provocative drawings, which interact in exciting, unexpected ways on the page with poetry that is timeless, meditative, and often darkly humorous.
An international sensation, Book of Longing contains all the elements that have brought Cohen's artistry with language worldwide recognition.
About the Author
Leonard Cohen was born in Montreal in 1934. He is the author of twelve books, including, most recently, the national bestseller Book of Longing, and has released seventeen albums.