John and Paul

A Love Story in Songs

By: Ian Leslie

Narrated by: Chris Addison, Geoff Lloyd

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

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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

©2025 Ian Leslie (P)2025 Faber & Faber