The John Lennon Letters: review

A collection of letters, lists and doodles by John Lennon only serve to make the subject look silly, writes Neil McCormick

This book is beyond parody. There can be no argument that Lennon was one of the most iconic and culturally significant figures of the 20th century, a status based on 23 albums made with the Beatles, Yoko Ono and solo. Since his untimely death in 1980, public fascination has led to an industry of posthumous releases and pseudo-forensic examination of everything he ever touched, rather like poring over the bones of a saint in search of religious revelation. As we get further from the creative source, each new addition to the growing heap of branded Lennon memorabilia has the effect of diminishing rather than expanding our sense of the artist. Typically for products endorsed by Yoko Ono, this book has a luxurious sheen that would complement any coffee table, but its contents reveal that the bottom of the barrel has been well and truly scraped clean.

The-John-Lennon-Letters-review