So Long, Marianne

The inspiration for the new miniseries starring Alex Wolff

“A vivid glimpse of life on the Greek island of Hydra where artists traveled to live, love and escape convention in the heady ’60s … The glimpse into Cohen’s memories and heart is a particular treat for his fans, and they will be pleased to find several previously unpublished poems.” — Publishers Weekly

The story of the enigmatic woman who captured the hearts of two extraordinary artists

At 22, Marianne Ihlen traveled to the Greek island of Hydra with writer Axel Jensen. While Axel wrote, Marianne kept house, until Axel abandoned her and their newborn son for another woman. One day while Marianne was shopping in a little grocery store, in walked a man who asked her to join him and some friends outside at their table. He introduced himself as Leonard Cohen, then a little-known Canadian poet.

Complemented by previously unpublished poems, letters, and photographs, So Long, Marianne is an intimate, honest account of Marianne’s life story — from her youth in Oslo and her romance with Axel to her life in an international artists colony on Hydra in the 1960s, and beyond. The subject of one of the most beautiful love songs of all time, Marianne Ihlen proves to be more than a muse to Axel and Leonard; her journey of self-discovery, romance, and heartache is lovingly recounted in So Long, Marianne.

“"Well Marianne it's come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road." -- Leonard Cohen, in a letter to Marianne shortly before her death in July 2016 "Richly textured and revealing . . . Readers will be drawn to Ihlen as representative of a young woman's struggles in the changing society and artistic milieu of her time. Her story will provide an additional perspective for those familiar with Cohen's work. Rare letters, poems, and photographs enhance the text." -- Library Journal "A vivid glimpse of life on the Greek island of Hydra where artists traveled to live, love, and escape convention in the heady '60s, with excursions to Norway, Montreal, and New York, this thoughtful story of a young woman finding her own way in and out of love is a good read in its own right. The glimpse into Cohen's memories and heart is a particular treat for his fans, and they will be pleased to find several previously unpublished poems." -- Publishers Weekly "A quirky and unusual addition to the Cohen files, with previously unpublished poems, letters, and photographs." -- Booklist "A bohemian time and place so tantalizingly evoked by the famous snap on the back cover of Songs From a Room , and a mythologized affair that received a lasting benediction from the song that provides the book with its title, are explored in greater depth than the standard biographies allow through interviews with both Ilhen and Cohen. As a considerable bonus, there are some hitherto unseen Cohen poems." -- Montreal Gazette " So Long, Marianne will appeal primarily to [Cohen's] legion of die-hard fans wanting to fill in biographical gaps and read some of his previously unpublished poems. Yet the book's great delight is Hesthamar's sun-drenched evocation of life in Hydra during the years of its transformation into a Bohemian idyll for poets, painters, and musicians from around the world." -- Quill & Quire " So Long Marianne is a dream of a book, beautifully written and nostalgic." -- Owen Sound Sun Times”

"Well Marianne it's come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road." - Leonard Cohen, in a letter to Marianne shortly before her death in July 2016

"Richly textured and revealing . . . Readers will be drawn to Ihlen as representative of a young woman's struggles in the changing society and artistic milieu of her time. Her story will provide an additional perspective for those familiar with Cohen's work. Rare letters, poems, and photographs enhance the text." - Library Journal

"A vivid glimpse of life on the Greek island of Hydra where artists traveled to live, love, and escape convention in the heady '60s, with excursions to Norway, Montreal, and New York, this thoughtful story of a young woman finding her own way in and out of love is a good read in its own right. The glimpse into Cohen's memories and heart is a particular treat for his fans, and they will be pleased to find several previously unpublished poems." - Publishers Weekly

"A quirky and unusual addition to the Cohen files, with previously unpublished poems, letters, and photographs." - Booklist

"A bohemian time and place so tantalizingly evoked by the famous snap on the back cover of Songs From a Room, and a mythologized affair that received a lasting benediction from the song that provides the book with its title, are explored in greater depth than the standard biographies allow through interviews with both Ilhen and Cohen. As a considerable bonus, there are some hitherto unseen Cohen poems." - Montreal Gazette

"So Long, Marianne will appeal primarily to [Cohen's] legion of die-hard fans wanting to fill in biographical gaps and read some of his previously unpublished poems. Yet the book's great delight is Hesthamar's sun-drenched evocation of life in Hydra during the years of its transformation into a Bohemian idyll for poets, painters, and musicians from around the world." - Quill & Quire

"So Long Marianne is a dream of a book, beautifully written and nostalgic." - Owen Sound Sun Times

Award-winning journalist Kari Hesthamar wrote this book based on lengthy conversations with Marianne Ihlen before her death in 2016 and supplemented by interviews with Leonard Cohen. Kari lives in Norway. Helle V. Goldman spent her childhood on the Greek island of Hydra and in Providence, Rhode Island. She resides with her husband and daughter on yet another island, this time in Norway — above the Arctic Circle — where she is the chief editor of an international scientific journal.

The story of the enigmatic woman who captured the hearts of two extraordinary artists -- now in trade paper At 22, Marianne Ihlen travelled to the Greek island of Hydra with writer Axel Jensen. While Axel wrote, Marianne kept house, until Axel abandoned her and their newborn son for another woman. One day while Marianne was shopping in a little grocery store, in walked a man who asked her to join him and some friends outside at their table. He introduced himself as Leonard Cohen, then a little-known Canadian poet. Complemented by previously unpublished poems, letters, and photographs, So Long, Marianne is an intimate, honest account of Marianne's life story -- from her youth in Oslo, her romance with Axel, to her life in an international artists colony on Hydra in the 1960s, and beyond. The subject of one of the most beautiful love songs of all time, Marianne Ihlen proves to be more than a muse to Axel and Leonard; her journey of self-discovery, romance, and heartache is lovingly recounted in So Long, Marianne .

AT 22, Marianne Ihlen travelled to the Greek island of Hydra withwriter Axel Jensen. While Axel wrote, Marianne kept house, until Axelabandoned her and their newborn son for another woman. One daywhile Marianne was shopping in a little grocery store, in walked a manwho asked her to join him and some friends outside at their table. Heintroduced himself as Leonard Cohen, then a little-known Canadianpoet.Complemented by previously unpublished poems, letters, andphotographs, So Long, Marianne is an intimate, honest account ofMarianne's life story -- from her youth in Oslo, her romance with Axel,to her life in an international artists colony on Hydra in the 1960s, andbeyond. The subject of one of the most beautiful love songs of all time,Marianne Ihlen proves to be more than a muse to Axel and Leonard; herjourney of self-discovery, romance, and heartache is lovingly recounted in So Long, Marianne .

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.