Re: Leonard Cohen

Colin Pink (colin@cpink.demon.co.uk)
Fri, 30 Jul 1999 10:53:41 +0100 

Interesting to see so many JDS fans also think highly of dear old Lennie
Cohen.  He's on both my list of favourite writers and favourite
singer/songwriters.

I always find it strange how people say he is depressing.  I find him
the exact opposite.  And he is v. humorous.  Beautiful Losers/Favourite
Game are both very funny in places, as are parts of his songs with their
gentle self-deprecating humour.  And his live concerts are full of witty
remarks to the audience etc.  Above all he has charm.  Perhaps JDS who,
let's face it, seems to have become something of an old curmudgeon,
would do well to take a leaf out of his book.

Speaking of books.  I think Beautiful Losers is one of the most
fascinating literary works of the 20th century.  It is so innovative in
style and narrative technique, without sacrificing readability in the
process, I'm sure it is largely overlooked because people think of Cohen
as 'just a pop performer'.  It is a great shame he didn't produce any
more novels.  (Novel writing is incredibly hard work and I suspect LC
simply can't be bothered, I know from an interview he gave he had the
attitude, Why wrote books and make little or no money when I can set a
few poems to music and make lots more).  His lack of productivity in the
literary line is another thing he has in common with JDS.

Speaking of unproductive literary figures have any of you people read
'The Rack' by A.E.Ellis?  It is his only novel but it is another great
book of the 20thc.  One of the most deeply moving and powerful works
I've ever read.  The end creates almost a mystical experience.  It is a
pretty gruelling experience as well, reading it can be very exhausting
because it is so emotionally draining, one really lives through all the
painful experiences of the principle character.  It is set in a
sanatorium for TB suffers just after the 2nd WW.  The book is
autobiographical.  The only other work I have managed to trace by this
brilliant writer is: 2 short stories ('Success Story' in Firebird 2 and
'The Dormouse Child' in London Magazine, Nov 1957 and 1 play performed
at the National Theatre, 'Grand Manoeuvres' - a brilliant satire of the
Dreyfus Affair).  

If anyone knows of anything else by him I'd love to hear from them.
Have any of you heard of him at all?
-- 
Colin Pink