First published 1990
John Lennon sits at the center of this intimate portrait, built from conversations with those who knew him best. Cynthia Lennon, his first wife, shares memories of their early years together. May Pang opens up about their relationship during his separation from Yoko Ono. Yoko herself speaks about their life as partners and collaborators. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr recall their fellow Beatle from the band's formation through their breakup. Other musicians who worked with Lennon add their voices to the chorus. The book examines how fame's weight pushed him toward drugs and alcohol as escape routes. It traces his search for spiritual meaning and his campaigns for love and peace. The story moves through his creative partnerships, his role as father and husband, and his quest to find balance between public persona and private self. Created alongside a ten-part Radio 1 series, the book builds toward the shocking violence that ended his life in 1980, exploring how a working-class Liverpool boy became a global icon while fighting his own demons.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: celebrity, fame, personal-journey
Setting: Liverpool
Period: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
128 pages · Paperback · BBC Books
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use