Poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has achieved almost iconic status amidst a huge global fanclub.

After attending McGill University in Canada, where he was born, Cohen wrote poetry and fiction through much of the 1960s, resulting in several books: a collection of poetry entitled Flowers for Hitler (1964), and the novels The Favourite Game (1963) and Beautiful Losers (1966).

His music, which was especially popular in the 70s and 80s, is famous for its emotionally rich and poetic lyrics. His work is known for its often explicit exploration of religion, isolation, sex, and complex interpersonal relationships.

Cohen has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and awarded the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honor.