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The Hurdy Gurdy Man
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Nov 17, 2024 9:33 PM

Author:Donovan Leitch

The Hurdy Gurdy Man

Donovan's autobiography charts his life from a post-war, Glaswegian childhood to the height of an international career as one of the leading figures of the 1960's music scene.

Always feeling like an outsider he found relief through music and poetry. The book reveals how he came to be influenced by Buddhist teachings and the music of Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez. The book explores the significance of falling deeply in love with the woman who was to become his muse, and the profound sense of loss he felt when their relationship came to an end, and how the loss affected him both personally and creatively.

A leader of the folk revival in both Britain and America, the book recounts how he rose to be an international star, releasing songs such as Mellow Yellow and Catch the Wind, and his most successful album, Sunshine Superman. Donovan is acknowledged as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 1960's.

The book provides a frank account of his early experiments with drugs and his search for self. He reveals the story of how he developed friendships with Baez, Dylan and the Beatles, with whom he a shared spiritual sojourn to meditate with the Maharishi in India. Donovan's autobiography offers first-hand insights into his music and poetry, recollects his rise to fame and the way in which destiny was to play a hand by re-uniting him with the lost love of his life through a chance meeting.

Reviews

Anyone who lived through that time, or anyone curious to know what the 'magic' or theswinging 60s where about, will enjoy this trip through 'histories of ages past' with the original Hurdy Gurdy Man.

—— The Guardian

Entertaining and indisputably personal account

—— MOJO

Three cheers for the Hurdy Gurdy man for approaching his autobiography as a serious book rather than a quick cash-in or headline grabbing confessional...a pleasing trip back to a time, not so long ago, when every gentle heart believed peace was a real possibility

—— The Telegraph

An unqualified delight

—— The Observer

Touching, illuminating and frank

—— The New York Times

Spellbinding autobiography

—— Daily Mail

An extraordinary read

—— Daily Express

This is a really marvellous book, the most uninhibitedly intimate portrayal ever of the short, hard life and overall musical triumph of Lady Day...With Billie vividly reflects the chaos that Billie Holiday was born into and only rarely escaped from

—— Spectator
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