They created each other
Does the world actually need another Beatles book? There are Mongolian peasants in one-yak villages far outside Ulan Bator who could tell you how John and Paul met at the Woolton Church fete in July 1957, and offer a considered opinion of the relative merits of Revolver and Sgt Pepper.
Ian Leslie has performed a marvellous balancing act in telling a story that is in the public domain while bringing a fresh consideration of the relationship between the creative powerhouse of The Beatles. He has listened to Lennon and McCartney’s output as if it were a dialogue between them, and while he doesn’t go so far as to claim that every song is a message from one to the other, this approach throws up fascinating and vivid insight. After exploring the history and processes that forged the greatest musical legacy of the Twentieth Century, Tim found himself compelled to ask the vital question: did John need Paul more than Paul needed John?
Ian Leslie – Faber – £25
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