100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

The John Lennon Letters

Edited and with an Introduction by Hunter Davies
4.14 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 1,510 ratings, 148 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The John Lennon Letters, curated by Hunter Davies, offers a unique glimpse into the life of John Lennon through a collection of his personal letters and postcards. This book reveals the intimate thoughts and reflections of Lennon, showcasing his wit, charm, and perspective on the world. It's a captivating biography that provides fans with a deeper understanding of the iconic musician's life and relationships.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by personal insights into the life of an iconic musician. It offers an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and emotions of John Lennon through his personal letters, compiled and annotated by Hunter Davies. Fans of The Beatles and anyone interested in the deeply personal side of a legendary figure's life will likely appreciate this collection.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The first-ever collection of the letters of John Lennon, now available in paperback.

First ever collection of the letters of John Lennon, an international publishing event.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A lifetime of letters, collected for the first time, from the legendary The Beatles musician and songwriter John Lennon.

John Lennon is one of the world's greatest-ever songwriters, creator of 'Help!', 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', 'Imagine', and dozens more. Now, his letters have been collected and published, illuminating as never before the intimate side of a private genius.

Hunter Davies, author of the only authorised biography of The Beatles, has tracked down almost three hundred of Lennon's letters and postcardsβ€”to relations, friends, fans, strangers, lovers, and even to the laundry. Some of the letters are tender, informative, funny, angry, and abusive, and some are simply heart-breakingβ€”from his earliest surviving thank-you note, written when he was ten, to his last scribbled autograph given on 8 December 1980, the day he was shot, aged forty.

Now available in The John Lennon Letters, these personal writings provide an unparalleled insight into the mind and heart of an iconic figure.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The John Lennon Letters is praised for providing an intimate glimpse into the life and mind of John Lennon through personal correspondence. Hunter Davies, as the editor, has been commended for his insightful annotations that help contextualise these letters, bringing to light Lennon's humour, wit, and honesty. The collection offers a unique perspective on Lennon's relationships and his iconic life, making it a valuable piece for fans and those interested in music history.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780225036

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 September 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 332g

Pages: 400

About the Author

John Lennon was, as one of The Beatles and the composer of many of their greatest songs, one of the most famous people of the 20th century. He died aged 40 in 1980. Hunter Davies, the editor of the letters, is the author of the only ever authorised biography of the Beatles, as well as THE BEATLES LYRICS. He lives in London, NW5.

Also by Hunter Davies

View all
  • Letters to Margaret
    β€˜Warm, revelatory and moving’ – The New Statesman's Books of the Year, 2024 At the end of almost every day of their fifty-five years of married life, the publicity-shy author Margaret Forster would ask her naturally gregarious and outgoing husband Hunter Davies to describe to her the highlights of his working day spent in the worlds of journalism and publishing....
    Hardback
    $5499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Letters to Margaret
    Warm, revelatory and moving – The New Statesman's Books of the Year, 2024 At the end of almost every day of their fifty-five years of married life, the publicity-shy author Margaret Forster would ask her naturally gregarious and outgoing husband Hunter Davies to describe to her the highlights of his working day spent in the worlds of journalism and publishing....
    Paperback
    $5499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Beatles Lyrics
    Over 100 handwritten manuscripts of the Beatles' original lyrics, tracked down from friends of the band, museums, universities and collectors. Hunter Davies, author of the only authorised biography of the Beatles, worked with the band in their heyday. Here he reveals each song's context with vivid behind-the-scenes stories and gives a unique insight into the creative process of the world's...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Get Back
    Pre-order
    Get Back
    Get Back: The Beatles' only authorised biographer now, for the first time, tells the story of the boys before they were famous. 'They did not seem arrogant or entitled. I didn't see them bossing around their staff or being horrid to studio assistants. But they did worry if this was all there was. All this fame and fortune, was it...
    Paperback
    $4500
    Pre-order
    Out 22 Sep 2026
  • London Parks
    Join Hunter Davies on a celebratory stroll around London’s greatest glories – its parks. We need our parks more than ever before, for our health and spirits, our bodies and souls, to keep us fit, to save us from pollution, to protect nature and wildlife; and Londoners are lucky enough to enjoy more green spaces than any other major city...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Love in Old Age
    Queen Victoria so liked the Isle of Wight she built a royal residence here. Thousands of people got stoned here at music festivals in the late 1960s. And, in the very un-hippyish Covid summer of 2020, Hunter Davies and his girlfriend escaped locked-down North London for a week’s holiday on the Isle of Wight, fell in love with its sleepy...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Also by John Lennon

View all
  • John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band
    Described by Lennon as 'the best thing I've ever done', and widely regarded by critics as his best solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was released alongside the remarkable Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band on 11 December 1970. With first-hand commentary by John & Yoko, members of the Plastic Ono Band, and other key figures in their lives, this incisive volume...
    Hardback
    $10000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • In His Own Write
    ABOUT THE AWFUL I was bored on the 9th of Octover 1940 when, I believe, the Nasties were still booming us led by Madalf Heatlump (Who only had one). Anyway they didn't get me. I attended to varicous schools in Liddypol. And still didn't passβ€”much to my Aunties supplies. As a member of the most publified Beatles my and (P,...
    Hardback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mind Games
    Told in revelatory detail, this is the definitive exploration of the writing, recording, and release of John Lennon's celebrated fourth solo album Mind Games. Described by Yoko Ono as 'ahead of its time', Mind Games is a breakthrough album from John Lennon, in which he employs a Plastic Ono Band comprising the cream of the crop of New York session...
    Hardback
    $10000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Imagine John Yoko
    Personally compiled and curated by Yoko Ono, Imagine John Yoko is the definitive inside storyβ€”told in revelatory detailβ€”of the making of the legendary album and all that surrounded it: the locations, the creative team, the artworks and the films, in the words of John & Yoko and the people who were there. Features 80% exclusive, hitherto-unpublished archive photos and footage...
    Hardback
    $8500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Spaniard in the Works
    Following the incredible success of his first book, In His Own Write, John Lennon's second collection of stories, drawings, and poems is just as witty, whimsical, and wonderful as his debut. First published in 1965, it is now back in print, looking just as it did when it first appeared half a century ago. Contents A Spaniard in the Works,...
    Hardback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Conflict Graffiti
    This study examines the waves of graffiti that occur before, during, and after a conflictβ€”important tools of political resistance that make protest visible and material. Graffiti makes for messy politics. In film and television, it is often used to create a sense of danger or lawlessness. In bathroom stalls, it is the disembodied expression of gossip, lewdness, or confession. But...
    Paperback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

More from Biography & Memoir

View all
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Famesick
    Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgunΒ wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through herΒ journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About
    From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    Stakes
    Read our interview with author Noelle McCarthy! A darkly funny, sparkling follow-up to the author’s bestselling memoirΒ Grand. You have to invite him in. You have to want the vampire’s badness in the house with you. Growing up in Catholic Ireland, Noelle McCarthy is captivated by Bram Stoker’sΒ Dracula. The vampire is a risk-free fantasy, a suave alternative to the fraught realities...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Built for This
    Raised among strong women, butcher's benches, and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty, and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Even the Good Girls Will Cry
    Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    An Ocean and a Day
    An utterly riveting, moving and poignant memoir of grief and loss that will speak to anyone who's ever lost someone they love. An Ocean and a Day is Hannah Richell's personal account of losing her husband, Matt, in a surfing accident on Tamarama beach in 2014. It is the story of the grief journey she travelled over the first two...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Place to Stand
    A Place to Stand by Clare Ward is a profound memoir that delves into the life of a country doctor living and working in the Hokianga Harbour area in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand. This region is sparsely populated and poses numerous health challenges. This thoughtful account details Clare’s thirty-year career, highlighting the people she works with and...
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Rory
    TheΒ New York TimesΒ bestseller The #1Β Irish TimesΒ bestseller The definitive biography of Rory McIlroy, the most important, popular and confounding player of the post-Tiger era. Rory McIlroy contains multitudes. The child of a working-class family from a small town in a war-torn homeland now commutes to work in his own private jet and counts billionaires as confidants. He can overwhelm a golf...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4199
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer
    Novelist, memoirist and playwright Witi Ihimaera – author of Pounamu, Pounamu and The Whale Rider – decided, at the age of eighty, to dive back into the water and spend a year full-time at Te Wānanga Takiura, immersing himself in his own language, in te reo Māori. This book tells the story of this kaikaukau, this swimmer, and his year...
    Paperback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    This Is Me: A Reckoning
    This is a searingly honest and moving memoir from double Golden Globe-nominatedactress Hayden Panettiere. Hayden Panettiere has been in front of the camera since before she could talk. She roseto stardom typecasted as Hollywood's blonde girl next door. As a young celebrity,naysayers were certain she would crash and burn. Not one to disappoint, she did.Hayden Panettiere's irreverent memoir satisfies our...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Beyond Life and Death
    From martial arts icon and global film star Jet Li comes a revelatory, profound and inspiring guide to self-mastery and spiritual wisdom, distilled into 10 essential life lessons. Martial arts legend and international movie star Jet Li distils 10 powerful insights from his iconic career, his personal life and philosophies, and his 30-year Buddhist practice. Jet Li's story defies legend....
    By Jet Li
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.