An undisputed icon of the Canadian scene, Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) profoundly marked 20th-century music with the grace and intensity of his compositions. His warm voice and soothing melancholy became his signature, as did his songs inspired by the women who crossed his life — Suzanne, Marianne, and many others.

This biography traces, through a series of flashbacks, the unique journey of an extraordinary artist. We discover his flashes of genius — such as the mythical Hallelujah, some covers of which have sometimes overshadowed the original version's fame — but also his bitter setbacks, such as the loss of the rights to Suzanne or the abuses of unscrupulous agents. Throughout the pages, legendary figures such as Janis Joplin, Lou Reed, and Phil Spector also appear.