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Rare ALS signed “Leonard,” one page, 6 x 9.5, University Manor Motel (Buffalo, New York), March 31, 1967. Handwritten letter to his girlfriend and muse Marianne Ihlen, to whom he refers as “Darling.” In full: “It’s good to know you. I love that picture you sent. I’ve looked at it a long time. Woke up in this little American city thinking about you. I’d like to get to know you some time. Standing in your leather boots on that honey island in my mind. It’s morning! I read and sang here last night. All my love.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope hand-addressed by Cohen to “Kiria Marianne Ihlen Cohen, Hydra, Greece.”
Provenance: Christie’s, Write Me and Tell Me Your Heart: Leonard Cohen’s Letters to Marianne, June 2019.
This remarkable letter dates to a pivotal juncture in Cohen’s personal and artistic life. He moved to America in early 1967, thus concluding a nearly seven-year romance with the Greek island of Hydra and, consequently, his girlfriend Marianne Ihlen. It was there in 1960 where they had met on Hydra—the “honey island” referred to in our letter—and it was there where Ihlen had served as Cohen’s muse. Life on Hydra was productive for Cohen, who published a collection of poetry, Flowers for Hitler, the novels The Favorite Game (1963) and Beautiful Losers, as well as several of his better-known songs, including ‘Bird on the Wire’ and ‘So Long, Marianne,’ the latter of which was inspired by Ihlen.
But as the fates would have it, Cohen, then 33, settled in New York City in 1967, when and where he formally transformed into a singer/songwriter. On March 30, 1967, a day before Cohen wrote this letter, he participated in readings alongside author Joseph Heller at the University at Buffalo. The event’s blend of music and poetry was a significant one for Cohen, who alludes to his performance at the close of his letter: “I read and sang here last night.”
Buffalo provided a stepping stone for Cohen, who, a month later, received an invitation from musician Judy Collins, who had recorded his song, ‘Suzanne,’ a year earlier for her album, In My Life. Collins, a champion of Cohen who encouraged his transition to public performance, added him as an act at a Vietnam protest concert at New York City’s Town Hall on April 30, 1967. Cohen sang ‘Suzanne,’ but wracked with nerves and too shy to continue, walked off the stage halfway through – for a brief while. Collins and the audience convinced him to return, and Cohen completed the performance to raucous applause. Later that year, he released his debut album through Columbia Records, Songs of Leonard Cohen.
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