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“ . . . finally, I’d like to thank Leonard Cohen. The book is named after an excerpt from his poem/song — ‘Anthem.’” (Louise Penny, Acknowledgements, How the Light Gets In)
Louise goes on to tell us that she first used the words in her second book.
“Gamache leaned in and put on his reading glasses.
Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget the perfect offering,
There’s a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.
He read it out loud. Beautiful.” (A Fatal Grace, Page 174)
Cohen, a Canadian and Quebecker like Louise, passed away last November and was hailed by Nick Cave as “the greatest songwriter of them all.” Anthem appeared on his 1992 album, The Future, but the song was a long time coming. It took Cohen 10 years to write and he reflected late in life on how much the song meant to him, “There’s not a line in it that I couldn’t defend.”
How the Light Gets In, the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache novel, is a harrowing tale of deep-seated corruption both political and moral. And, at its heart, the sanctity of Three Pines itself.
On page 117 of the novel, Gamache ponders, “Three Pines, he knew, was not immune to dreadful loss. To sorrow and pain. What Three Pines had wasn’t immunity but a rare ability to heal. And that’s what they offered him.”
That statement, to me, epitomizes Louise’s choice for the title and its connection to Leonard Cohen’s profound words. As Cohen said himself in a rare interview in the early 90’s, “And worse, there is a crack in everything that you can put together: Physical objects, mental objects, constructions of any kind. But that’s where the light gets in, and that’s where the resurrection is and that’s where the return, that’s where the repentance is. It is with the confrontation, with the brokenness of things.”
Three Pines certainly has some cracks but as Gamache points out it also has “a rare ability to heal” the brokenness of things.
When Louise originally reached out to Cohen to obtain the rights — and ask what it would cost — to license the stanza for inclusion in A Fatal Grace, she was astounded by his response:
He would give it to me for free. Free. I’d paid handsomely for other poetry excerpts, and rightly so. I’d expected to pay for this, especially given that at the time, six years ago, Mr. Cohen had just had most of his savings stolen by a trusted member of his team. Instead of asking for thousands — he asked for nothing. I cannot begin to imagine the light that floods into that man.
R.I.P. Leonard Cohen
34 replies on “CULTURAL INSPIRATIONS FROM THREE PINES: HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN”
I named my daughter Suzanne, in the young mother’s heart felt prayer that she be loved with the same great quantity of love that comes thru Leonard Cohen when he sings of his love Suzanne. What more could a mother ask for. 🙂 Mr. Cohen we all owe you so much. Thank you. And thank you Louise. Every book is such a joy. I am not surprised Mr. Cohen would not charge you for use of his lyrics. I am sure he would know you and recognize the light you are bringing in like he has for so many people. Many blessings to you both and thank you!
Louise’s characters reveal the complexity of human nature, but more than anything, her writing offers hope and healing to her readers. Cohen’s words are simple, yet profound – and through Louise’s storytelling she gifts them to each of us in a very personal way. The two of them are
God’s ambassadors, embracing us with the humbling power of redemption. Louise and Cohen snd the people of Three Pines are my cherished friends.
There are so many dimensions to the Gamache books. I reread them and learn more about Louise’s writing and life each time. One of my greatest pleasures has been sharing them with my two adult daughters and having them as engrossed in Louise’s writing as I am.
I just finished “How The Light Gets In” this weekend. I didn’t think I would like it when I started reading and closed the book thinking it’s my favorite one…so far. I try not to read them too fast because I know
(Made me miss Leonard Cohen all over again.)
I think we would all like to transport ourselves to Three Pines at sometime or other. We need the respite.
Totally agree
I agree with you and would add that the “respite” includes the deep friendship between the people of Three Pines. I would love to be a part of this friendship. I relish the idea of this community and, being a lover of snow, like nothing better than snuggling with a blanket and reading Penny’s novels.
I agree!! I wish Three Pines really existed. I would love to live there!
Well, we can always create a Three Pines…if they can make Hobbiton, we can make Three Pines. I’ll be the blacksmith.
The great perception of needing a crack for the light to get in relieves so much pressure from being perfect. A great concept. A relieving concept. Do the best you can and if you crack, let the light flow in. I love the attention given to the emotional angst which is felt by all the characters in these wonderful stories. I’ve learned a lot about myself reading them.
I loved How The Light Gets In….and all your novels. But this one really spoke to me because of my own brokenness and because of how transforming I think Leonard Cohen was/is.
Reading your novels is almost like reading poetry for me. Such richness in metaphor, such pain, such joy….all wrapped up in one beautiful book after another. Thank you, Louise.