Travelling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell

Selected as a Time Must-Read Book of 2024, an Independent Best Non-Fiction Book of 2024, and a Mojo Book of the Year 2024, Ann Powers' Travelling: On the Path to Joni Mitchell is clearly a biography that has resonated deeply. The Guardian hails it as "a vibrant, multifaceted portrait of a music enigma," while the Irish Independent calls it "a powerful portrait." The Times praises its "bracing rigour and an exhilarating curiosity about its subject, coming closer than most to catching up with Mitchell on her lonely road."

Celebrated music critic Ann Powers doesn't offer a conventional life story here. Instead, as she herself states, this is "a tale of long journeying through a life that changed popular music," a narrative of a "homesick wanderer forging ahead on routes of her invention," with Powers herself following the resonant echo of Mitchell's voice.

Joni Mitchell, an artist who has inspired countless musicians and writers while remaining resolutely in motion, presents a fascinating paradox: both elusive and deeply inviting. In Travelling, Powers seeks to unravel this enigma through the lens of Mitchell's myriad journeys, both literal and artistic. Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitchell's contemporaries and meticulous archival research, Powers takes readers back to rural Canada, charts the intricate course of Mitchell's musical evolution, follows the winding paths of her collaborations with other musical giants, and explores the profound loves that nourished her iconic songwriting.

Kaleidoscopic in its scope yet intimate in its detail, Travelling offers a fresh and captivating addition to the existing body of work on Joni Mitchell. Powers doesn't just recount events; she delves into the complexities of Mitchell's artistry and persona, questioning whether an artist, no matter how beloved, can ever truly be fully known by their fans. This is a thoughtful, insightful, and beautifully written exploration of a legendary figure, offering both familiar touchstones and new perspectives on the enduring magic of Joni Mitchell.