Intricate preparations

A new collection of essays reflects the scope and reach of Leonard Cohen's influence. Leonard Cohen is a singer who hasn't issued a new album in seven years, a poet who hasn't published a new book for 16 years, and a novelist who hasn't written a new novel for 34 years. Yet he remains a vital presence not only in Canadian literature, but also on the international stage, including the one provided by the internet. This new collection, edited by Stephen Scobie, reflects the scope and reach of Leonard Cohen's influence. It ranges from academic essays that consider the treatment of the Holocaust in Cohen's poetry, aspects of personal and national identity in his novels, and the theoretical problems of performance in his songs, to less formal discussions such as an internet newsgroup thread on "Closing Time" and a description of fan reactions to his concert performances in Germany. Several writers pay tribute to Cohen by contributing poems that "translate" his work into new idioms. The book also includes two new poems by Cohen himself. Intricate Preparations is fully international in scope, with contributions coming from Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, and Finland, as well as Canada - including something from the Governor-General herself.