Let us Compare Mythologies [Cohen's reading copy for 1957 Folkways recording]

Cohen, Leonard

Published by Contact Press for the McGill Poetry Series, Montreal, 1956

About this Item

First edition of Cohen's first book. With his numbering of the 8 poems to be read, in order, on his first official recording. Accompanied by an appealing letter of provenance. Cohen has numbered the first five poems to be read in the order in which they were read. He seems to have wavered regarding the order of poems 'Warning' and 'Les Vieux' on facing pages, with 'Warning' simultaneously numbered 6, 7, 8; and 'Les Vieux' 8 and 9; 'Elegy' he numbered 9. On the recording Warning is 6; 'Les Vieux' 7, and 'Elegy' 8. Purchased from the original owner who provides background regarding the recording and her 65-year ownership of this copy of Let Us Compare Mythologies. In part: "Following the book's appearance, Leonard sought to pursue his career primarily as a writer and poet. I frequently attended his readings at coffee shops and bookstores, usually accompanied by my fiancé (and eventual husband), Sam Gesser. Sam was a graphic designer by trade, but was increasingly involved in the promotion of folk music, both national and international. As the Canadian distributor for Folkways Records of New York, he had been encouraged by the company?s owner, Moses Asch, to document and record both traditional and contemporary exponents of both music and spoken word, and his weekly program on CBC Radio introduced countless listeners to the work of little known artists and writers in these fields. . Sam invited F.R. Scott, leading legal scholar and distinguished poet (as well as our friend) to serve as editor for Six Montreal Poets. In addition to Scott's own writing, poems by A.J.M. Smith, Irving Layton, Louis Dudek, Leonard Cohen, and A.M. Klein would be included. My role was to edit and type the extensive liner notes, as I had done for dozens of other Folkways recordings. When I asked Leonard for his script to insure accuracy in my transcription, he took my copy of his book, circled the nine poems he had decided upon, and read from it in the recording studio. His tone was stilted - he admitted to being nervous, and spoke of aiming to achieve an appropriate CBC inflection. The session would mark the first professional recording of any of his work." Jacket chipped and stained; offsetting to pastedowns. No inscriptions.

Seller Inventory # Books013567

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Let us Compare Mythologies [Cohen's reading copy for 1957 Folkways recording]
• Publisher: Contact Press for the McGill Poetry Series, Montreal
• Publication Date: 1956
• Binding: Cloth
• Illustrator: Freda Guttman
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good
• Signed: association copy
• Seller catalogs:
  • Music
  • Poetry
  • Canadiana