Description
The honest and revealing story of John Lennon's childhood by his sister Julia.
Through her own personal journey, Julia reveals the battle between two strong, self-willed women - John's mother and his Aunt Mimi - to have custody of John in his early years. It was Aunt Mimi who finally won and removed John from his mother at the age of five. But as John grew up, he would frequently return home - spending time with his mother and half-sisters, Julia, Jackie and Ingrid, learning his love of music from his mother, and hanging out, playing guitar with his childhood friend Paul McCartney.
Julia is candid about the sadness as well as the joy of their broken family life. She details the devestating loss of their mother Julia in a road accident - and describes the painful legacy for the entire family, especially John as he moves into a life of stratospheric fame with the Beatles.
An extraordinarily moving and honest memoir by John Lennon's sister revealing for the first time the often painful and lonely childhood that was to have such reverberations for his and her own life.
About the Author
Julia Baird has an MA in Philosophy of Education and first worked as a teacher of French and English before going on to work as a special needs teacher for 15 years with excluded adolescents in the most deprived areas of Chester. She has three children and is now a director of Cavern City Tours. She has written one previous book, JOHN LENNON: MY BROTHER, now out of print.
Reviews
'A tragic story . . . also a tenderly evoked memoir of a Liverpool childhood' * The Independent *
'Honest and poignant, this enjoyable read offers fans a new perspective on their idol' * The Sun *
'A moving account of the Beatle's childhood by his half-sister . . . fascinating' * Observer Music Monthly *
'Philip Larkin's much-quoted lines about sex being invented in 1963 "between the end of the Chatterley ban/ And the Beatles first LP" stand corrected here. Perhaps life was dull in Hull and Coventry, but on this account there was plenty of passion in Liverpool' * The Irish Times *
'A poignant powerful tale that throws new light on the Lennon legend' * The Scottish Sunday Post *
'An unusual treat' * Aberdeen Evening Express *
'His sister's important new account chronicles the pivotal childhood years that provided the source of both Lennon's rich creativity and personal vulnerability' * Good Books Guide *
Book Information
ISBN 9780340839256
Author Julia Baird
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 283g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 24mm