Your contributions to new biography

[AnthonyR]

Aloha.

I am currently writing a biography of Mr Cohen.

I've written two other biographies - one on Jeff Buckley and one on Scott Walker and the Walker Brothers.

Im a fan of all three and as with my previous books I like to include the fan's perspective. I find it odd, actually, that often the one subject not interviewed and researched during a music biog is also on of the most neccessary - the person who buys the records..the audience.

I usually prefer to ask questions relating to a particular occurance, it gives a wider perspective.

if anyone here would like to contribute, please do.

Im currently interested in how 'Death of a ladies' man was perceived by you, on its original release.

thanks for reading.

A
http://www.anthonyreynolds.net

[hydriot]

Is this an authorised biography, or just an opportunity to make some money riding on the coat-tails of somebody else's current success?

It is hard to imagine anyone improving on the scholarly and recently updated Various Positions by Ira Nadel, harder still without Leonard's active participation.

I find it odd, actually, that often the one subject not interviewed and researched during a music biog is also on of the most neccessary - the person who buys the records..the audience.

No, it is not odd at all. A biography is supposed to be as objective as possible, and fans' opinions are about as varied and subjective as it is possible to imagine.

People buy biographies to learn about the person, not read what other fans think of the person.

[DBCohen]

It is hard to imagine anyone improving on the scholarly and recently updated Various Positions by Ira Nadel, harder still without Leonard's active participation.

I’m afraid I must disagree with you about the value of Nadel’s biography, which was not really updated. May I refer you to my extensive review of the book in the “Analysis” section of “The LC Files”? A new and better biography is certainly required, but we must wait and see whether there’s anyone capable of producing it.

[AnthonyR]

This is neither an authorised biography (Unlikely in any event as LC is currently considering his autobiography, although LC is aware of my project) and I won't dignify the other comment with a serious response.

As to the credibility of interviewing the people who buy the records and books and concert tickets - while not a major source for any biography they are nevertheless an important one. And obviously, learning how the work is received by its audience does of course tell us something about the subject.

I enjoyed 'Various positions' enormously.

A

[Womanfromaroom]

In my humble opinion, history of reception is as scholarly and as legitimate an approach as any.
Which is also why writing biographies or books on a certain subject does not have to "stop" once you have got what may become a standard work all right - but it may be that precisely these so called "definitive" books may inspire new discussions (which, I think, is part of their value if they are really good books), then leading to new works on the subject. Moreover, the views on a certain subject may indeed change over a certain period of time, a process normally reflected in an output of new pieces of writing, too. And shouldn't we wait for the final result, anyway, before we go about criticizing a book that has not even been written yet?
Also, as far as I remember, Nadel himself says in his foreword that it had never been his intention to cover "Leonard Cohen" in an all-embracing, final way, and that not even his biography was officially authorized - but (I don't remember the exact wording) "only" something like "benignly accepted" by Cohen.
I am too young though to help with the initial response to DOALM", sorry!