Kari Hesthamar In Co-Operation With Marianne Ihlen

So long, Marianne. A Love Story

Leonard Cohen immortalised her in the song So long, Marianne. The story begins in the 1950s, in Oslo, a town marked by jazz and a budding youth rebellion. Together with her boyfriend Axel Jensen, 23-years-old Marianne runs away to Greece and lands on the island of Hydra, where a few international artists have already congregated, and they are soon joined by Göran Tunstrøm. Axel and Marianne buy a small white washed house where Axel Jensen amongst other stories writes his novel Line.
After a couple of years Axel leaves the island, Marianne and their six months little son for another woman. One day Marianne was in the village shop with her basket waiting to pick up bottled water and milk, a dark man is standing in the doorway with the sun behind him. He is saying: “Would you like to join us, we’re sitting outside?” It is Leonard Cohen. He calls her the most beautiful woman he has ever met. Cohen drives her home from Greece to Oslo. Later she receives a telegram from Montreal: “Have house. All I need is my woman and her son. Love Leonard.” Shortly afterwards she goes to Canada with her little boy and two suitcases.

Cohen, Marianne and “little Axel” live together during the 60s, and commute between Montreal, New York and Hydra. Many of his most famous poems and songs are inspired by Marianne. Now, for the first time Marianne tells her story in this book, in co-operation with Kari Hesthamar. The book is illustrated with never before seen photos, facsimiles and letters.