The Autobiography of Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Donovan Leitch
304 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 29, 2005)
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 Joan Baez, Bob 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.