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"A vibrant, multifaceted portrait of a music enigma" Guardian

"A powerful portrait" Irish Independent

"Displays a bracing rigour and an exhilarating curiosity about its subject, coming closer than most to catching up with Mitchell on her lonely road" Times

Celebrated music critic Ann Powers explores the life and career of the legendary Joni Mitchell

What you are about to read is not a standard account of the life and work of Joni Mitchell. Instead, it’s a tale of long journeying through a life that changed popular music: of a homesick wanderer forging ahead on routes of her invention, and of me on her trail, heading toward the ringing of her voice.

One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians and writers, while never stopping still herself.

In Travelling, celebrated music critic Ann Powers seeks to understand the paradox of Mitchell – at once both elusive and inviting – through her myriad journeys. Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitchell’s peers and deep archival research, Powers takes readers to rural Canada, charts the course of Mitchell’s musical evolution, follows the winding road of Mitchell’s collaborations with other greats and explores the loves that fed her songwriting.

Kaleidoscopic in scope and intimate in detail, Travelling is a fresh and fascinating addition to the Joni Mitchell corpus – and one that questions whether an artist can ever truly be known to their fans.

Powers criticism of Mitchell's work is not just an autobiography, but a deep dive into the history of entertainment and the individual's role in it. The book is a kaleidoscope of non-fiction, exploring the pre-performing days of the composer and the impact she had on the industry.

For fans of James Kaplan (Sinatra), and Joe Boyd (White Bicycles).

HarperCollins 2024