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John and Paul
- Author
- Ian Leslie
- Narrator
- Chris Addison, Geoff Lloyd
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Publish Date
- 25 March 2025
- Run Time
- 14 hours 9 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Rating
- 5.0 (4 reviews)
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What to expect
THE #1
SUNDAY TIMES AND
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC PRIZE
'A triumph.' Deborah Levy,
New Statesman
'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner,
The Times
'Revelatory.' Simon Schama,
Financial Times
'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn,
Observer
'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis,
Sunday Telegraph
'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones,
Evening Standard
'[Ian Leslie] reframes the whole relationship for me . . . He roots it in a kind of love. It's so moving, so moving. I was crying so much.' Paul Mescal
'I so loved John and Paul. I found it completely absorbing and painfully moving . . . It has rather turned me into a bit of a Beatles person.' Nigella Lawson
'The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst.' Caitlin Moran
'The most moving and revelatory book on Lennon and McCartney I have ever read. So joyful, so sad.' Tom Holland
---
We think we know John ### Paul. We really don't.
At the centre of The Beatles was the volatile, madly creative chemistry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This is the story of how two young men merged their souls and multiplied their talents to produce one of the greatest bodies of music in history. It is also a love story, full of longing, laughter, pain and joy.
'
John ### Paul is a masterpiece, a classic, and a book that should be read by anyone who wants to really understand how the Beatles worked.' Dylan Jones,
Evening Standard
**
Readers are raving about
John ### Paul:
'I've never been so into a book.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A surprising fresh take on this relationship, after so much has been written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The Beatles book I've been waiting for.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Thoroughly enjoyable, insightful and delightfully written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I can't listen to another Beatles song in the same way ever again.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Such a fantastic book - really insightful and charming.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I read this book in more or less one go . . . Incredibly moving.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Rekindled my interest in The Beatles. A masterful work.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Full of love . . . A very worthwhile addition to the library of even the most jaded Beatles reader.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Excellent. Just buy it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
**
Ian Leslie's book
John & Paul was a
Sunday Times Bestseller w/e 29-03-2025 through w/e 19-04-2025
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
This is an interesting new take on a story that feels well known. The Beatles have been around all my life - I was born in 1963 and my mum was a fan so their records were around. It reminds you that they constantly broke new ground, and if just how good the songs were, as well as providing an insight into their different approaches. It’s also a lovely portrait of an extraordinary friendship / relationship. I would have liked to hear the songs interspersed between the chapters but I guess cost of rights wound be an issue. Recommended to anyone with an interest in music, social history and what’s behind the gossip.
Vish Lee 2026-05-16
Details
- Author
- Ian Leslie
- Narrator
- Chris Addison, Geoff Lloyd
- Duration
- 14 hours 9 minutes
- Release Date
- 25 March 2025
- ISBN
- 9780571376155
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Genre
- Biography: arts and entertainment, Social and cultural history
- Rating
- 5.0(4 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(4 reviews)
Synopsis
THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC PRIZE 'A triumph.' Deborah Levy, New Statesman 'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner, The Times 'Revelatory.' Simon Schama, Financial Times 'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn, Observer 'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis, Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard '[Ian Leslie] reframes the whole relationship for me . . . He roots it in a kind of love. It's so moving, so moving. I was crying so much.' Paul Mescal 'I so loved John and Paul. I found it completely absorbing and painfully moving . . . It has rather turned me into a bit of a Beatles person.' Nigella Lawson 'The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst.' Caitlin Moran 'The most moving and revelatory book on Lennon and McCartney I have ever read. So joyful, so sad.' Tom Holland --- We think we know John ### Paul. We really don't. At the centre of The Beatles was the volatile, madly creative chemistry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This is the story of how two young men merged their souls and multiplied their talents to produce one of the greatest bodies of music in history. It is also a love story, full of longing, laughter, pain and joy. ' John ### Paul is a masterpiece, a classic, and a book that should be read by anyone who wants to really understand how the Beatles worked.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard ** Readers are raving about John ### Paul: 'I've never been so into a book.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A surprising fresh take on this relationship, after so much has been written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The Beatles book I've been waiting for.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thoroughly enjoyable, insightful and delightfully written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I can't listen to another Beatles song in the same way ever again.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Such a fantastic book - really insightful and charming.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I read this book in more or less one go . . . Incredibly moving.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Rekindled my interest in The Beatles. A masterful work.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Full of love . . . A very worthwhile addition to the library of even the most jaded Beatles reader.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Excellent. Just buy it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ** Ian Leslie's book John & Paul was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/e 29-03-2025 through w/e 19-04-2025
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