Get our latest book recommendations, author news, competitions, offers, and other information right to your inbox.
The Holy or the Broken
Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, and the Unlikely Ascent of "Hallelujah"
By Alan Light
Table of Contents
About The Book
See the film Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song from Sony Pictures Classics
This “thoughtful and illuminating” (The New York Times) work of music journalism is an unforgettable, fascinating, and unexpected account of one of the most performed and beloved songs in pop history—Leonard Cohen’s heartrending “Hallelujah.”
How did one obscure song become an international anthem for human triumph and tragedy, a song each successive generation seems to feel they have discovered and claimed as uniquely their own? Celebrated music journalist Alan Light follows the improbable journey of “Hallelujah” straight to the heart of popular culture.
This “thoughtful and illuminating” (The New York Times) work of music journalism is an unforgettable, fascinating, and unexpected account of one of the most performed and beloved songs in pop history—Leonard Cohen’s heartrending “Hallelujah.”
How did one obscure song become an international anthem for human triumph and tragedy, a song each successive generation seems to feel they have discovered and claimed as uniquely their own? Celebrated music journalist Alan Light follows the improbable journey of “Hallelujah” straight to the heart of popular culture.
About The Author
Photo credit: Mary Ellen Matthews
Alan Light has been one of America's leading music journalists for the past twenty years. Light was a senior editor at Rolling Stone, founding music editor and editor-in-chief of Vibe, and editor-in-chief of Spin Magazine. He is also author of The Skills to Pay the Bills, an oral history of the Beastie Boys.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (December 4, 2012)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9781451657869
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"Thoughtful and illuminating... [Mr. Light] is a fine companion for this journey through one song’s changing fortunes."
– The New York Times
"A combination mystery tale, detective story, pop critique and sacred psalm of its own."
– The Daily News
"Brilliantly revelatory... A masterful work of critical journalism."
– Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A deeply researched mixture of critical analysis and cultural archaeology."
– Los Angeles Times
"Keeps the pages turning... A well-constructed, consistently enlightening book, which should have Cohen devotees and music fans alike seeking out their favorite version of the song."
– The Boston Globe
"Fresh and compelling."
– Entertainment Weekly
"Reverentially details every stage in the [song's] evolution—and along the way, he reveals the compelling stories behind some of its most iconic interpretations."
– The Atlantic
"Absorbing…Eloquent... Light expertly unpacks the song's long, strange journey to ubiquity."
– The Village Voice
"A must for music fans."
– Booklist (starred review)
"Reads like an investigative oral biography of a song. A true songography."
– Pop Matters
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Holy or the Broken eBook 9781451657869
- Author Photo (jpg): Alan Light Photo credit: Mary Ellen Matthews(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
