COHEN, Leonard (1934-2016). Let Us Compare Mythologies. Drawings by Freda Gutman. Montreal: McGill Poetry Series, 1956.

The first edition, inscribed and signed for his longtime friend and fellow native of Montreal, Robert Hershorn, from the estate of legendary artist manager and talent scout Mary Martin: "To Robert Hershorn / in friendship / Leonard Cohen / May 1956."

Decades later Cohen would pay tribute to his friend: "I owe my thanks to the late Robert Hershorn, who, many years ago, put into my hands the books of the old Persian poets Attar and Rumi, whose imagery influenced several songs, especially 'The Guests' and 'The Window'." Both songs appeared on his 1979 album Recent Songs. Hershorn, the son of a major clothing manufacturer, was an actor and producer who died in 1972 in Hong Kong of a drug overdose. This copy is additionally from the estate of the Grammy-winning and trailblazing talent scout, manager, and record executive Mary Martin, who is credited with helping start the careers of not only Cohen but also Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt, as well as with introducing Bob Dylan to The Band.

Let Us Compare Mythologies shows a young poet experimenting with styles and beginning to explore themes—Judeo-Christian imagery, philosophy, sexuality, death, a world of violent contrasts—that would define his future literary and musical careers.

Octavo. Original black cloth, spine titles in silver (slight dampstain visible at foot of spine on rear cover, barely discernible bow to front cover); pictorial dust-jacket (worn, loss at spine and margins, reinforced with tape on verso). Provenance: Robert Hershorn,1932-1972 (bookplate, inscription) – Mary Martin, artist manager and record company executive, 1939-2024.