Leonard Cohen and the French Canadians

[Tom Elson]

Howdy everyone

I just logged in and wanted to greet everyone before I selfishless asked my question.

I haven't been able to find much about Leonard Cohen stating his opinion on the issues over separatism in Quebec. I know that somewhere there are interviews where he has been asked those types of questions but my search continues to leave me with nothing to go on.

This is a very intense issue and now when the subject continues to turn up in the papers I can't help ask myself how Leonard Cohen feels about this. I'm very curious. If anyone can help me I thank them.

[jurica]

from the top of my head, i'll tell you that i remember he was asked that once (i think it was an old video interview still available on CBS or CBC or whatever web archive), and he answered something like: "yeah, i'm supporting them. i'll support anyone doing something new and beliving in it". also in some earlier poems (first two or three collections) you can find some mention of the issue, i think.

i'm afraid i'm not into mood to search the archives or anything like that. you can do that by yourself, anyway.

alternatively, you can wait till monday when Tom Sakic will certanly tell you in which interviews exactly the matter was raised.

[Tom Elson]

from the top of my head, i'll tell you that i remember he was asked that once (i think it was an old video interview still available on CBS or CBC or whatever web archive), and he answered something like: "yeah, i'm supporting them. i'll support anyone doing something new and beliving in it". also in some earlier poems (first two or three collections) you can find some mention of the issue, i think.

i'm afraid i'm not into mood to search the archives or anything like that. you can do that by yourself, anyway.

alternatively, you can wait till monday when Tom Sakic will certanly tell you in which interviews exactly the matter was raised.

Thank you for your reply. These kinds of subjects are never black or white and Leonard saying something along the lines of "I'll support anyone doing something new and believing in it" is very vague. I could have swore I heard him say once that he though that the "revolution" going on in Quebec is false..." I'm paraphrasing but something like that.

[linda_lakeside]

Hi there,

Personally, I don't think Leonard really gives a s*** about what's happening in Canada these days. Politically at least. At least. I do know that he and Trudeau had a friendship that lasted many years (Trudeau, a Federalist, of course). So, whether they agreed on political issues or debated them, I don't know. Another "off the top of the head" answer. Sorry.

I think Leonard is more interested in the politics of the 'world' than that of Canada and Quebec. Of course, this is just my opinion and I could be off by many miles. - I've always felt him to be apolitical in a sense. Politics just being politics. I think what is happening in Israel might be more intersting to him. Again, an opinion. I guess, you're going to have to dig through the archives

Linda.

[linda_lakeside]

Hi again , I'm always adding something.

In the Favourite Game (it's old, sure, but who knows what's hidden in there?), Leonard does touch on the Quebec/Anglo relationship. You, (and I) might want to give it a re-read for clarity, or just for the hell of it.

See you,
Linda.

[tomsakic]

I think Leonard talked much about that in 60s and 70s. There are great quotations in which he's speaking about "two solitudes" etc (I read partial extracts in Leonard Cohen In His Own Words).

The most important thing is his 1966 novel Beautiful Losers. There are many parts dealing with that matter, and great and famous scene of speratists' street gathering. That novel was usually depicted as "political" novel about Canada. Linda Hutcheon wrote much about that. So, check the original novel, and the criticism.

[linda_lakeside]

Hi Tom,

Yes, BL does have a lot of reference to that political situation. I even made guesses to who Krantz might be an amalgamation of . But it's a novel and one can't 'guess'. Many characters/situations are both real and imagined, in that inspiration is taken from here and there and put together, which does not necessarily represent an historical truth. It was just my opinion that FG was more autobiographical. However, I'm not a 'student' of Leonard's, just a fan. As far as Hutheons book. Ahem.

Anyway, Leonard is not always true to what he says in interviews or what we might think is 'he' in a novel. So it follows: who knows? I just thought Favourite Game was more honest. Although, he doesn't even count it as an artistic achievement. That kind of blows me out of the water, doesn't it? Just a thought.

Linda.

[tomsakic]

I still can't remember in which book was exact chapter about Beautiful Losers as political allegory of Quebecois situation in 1960s, but all books and works about Leonard's fiction are mentioning that way of reading the novel.
In Google, when you write "Beatiful+Losers+political", you get plenty of blurbs and sites (incl.recent Canada Reads' Guide) who cites that novel as political fable.

But I found two new scholar essays about Cohen online; maybe not directly connected to this topic. I didn't hear about those before so I am happy now; I'll enlist them soon on my site:

RE-READING LINDA HUTCHEON ON BEAUTIFUL LOSERS, PROCHAIN ÉPISODE AND TROU DE MÉMOIRE by David Leahy (This one could be of use to you, Tom /Elson/ )

Re-Figuring Imperialism. Gray, Cohen, Atwood & the Female Body, by Christopher E Gittings

[tomsakic]

Anyway, on checking Leonard's opinions about everything, it's good to stick yourself to Ira Nadel's biography Various Positions. But you're probably aware that Leonard's didn't say much about brave new world; he's very secluded in last 10-15 years and all his statements about Quebec can be 20 or 30 years old. Although I remember he said that today's Montreal isn't the town of his youth years; English-speakers became much larger minority due to Quebecois movement in 70s and 80s. Or I am wrong?

[linda_lakeside]

And 'Atwood and the Female Body' will be of use to me? . Curious: Did you get to past Alias Grace? Robber Bride? Blind Assassin? I haven't read blind Assassin but i guess there's a movie in the works. They (they asked Atwood what she thought about Hollywood taking 'poetic license' with her book. And she couldn't care less. She's a terrific writer who just never broke through in the States. The 'market'. It's truly awful when Margaret Atwood can't sell but all those Danielle Steele and Judith Krantz, etc. I hope she makes some real $$$$$$.

Now, I'm thinking about this (very unwise to think out loud in a public forum - esp. when one hasn't done research). I know! We'll ask Dylan, he's reading BL now. I'm stuck in Favourite Game, I think. Krantz is in Favourite Game. Hmm. I should have read that thread Joe Way had going on BL. I'm not reading that sucker over again, that's for sure (the book, I mean).

G'nite.
Linda.

[linda_lakeside]

I almost went to my books, and now I see I have a post in front of me with a question mark. Good night, Tom.

Linda.

[tomsakic]

I read both Alias Grace & Oryx and Crake back in December, when we had big discussion about Atwood here, remember? Didn't read Blind Assassin (not translated).

[Tchocolatl]

All was said.

"A second novel, the abstract and somewhat difficult Beautiful Losers, followed in 1966. That book was an experimental, post-modern novel about the obsessions of a love triangle that seemingly drew its inspiration from the conflicts between the French, the English and the First Nations in both colonial times and in the contemporary world of Quebec’s Quiet Revolution."

http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/canjew04.htm

Even though the love(rs) triangle and the entangled spirituality with sex, are more often used to depict this novel:

http://www.mcclelland.com/catalog/displ ... 0771022005

But Quiet Revolution is (and his) History by now and who knows how it will end? This is why (I think) the novel does not finish.

There is also this much interesting poem, from Stranger Music : French and English. Have a look! (Or is it English and French? )

[linda_lakeside]

Tom,

I remember very well you reading Oryx and Crake and Alias Grace. Around the same time a number of people were talking about the older book, Handmaid's Tale, so I wondered if you had gone further with Atwood. As I recall, CanLit came to you delivered on the lyrics of Leonard . Just wondering if you read more or if you pretty much stick to the musical part of CanLit.

Linda.

PS: I haven't read Blind Assassin as yet, but I enjoyed Robber Bride quite a bit.

[Cohendrix]

In my subject line, read Cohen's funny/flippant remark about Quebec Nationalism at the time of the interviews he did for [i]The Future[/i].

On the surface, you'd think Cohen (an anglophone from Montreal's posh Westmount district) would have had no sympathy or understanding at all for Quebec independantistes of the 60s/70s. However, I think his poetic imagination allowed him to see some of himself in his so-called opposites. That's the mark of a poet.