John & Paul

A Love Story in Songs

Ian Leslie

Lennon and McCartney were more than friends, rivals or collaborators. They were intimates who both had the fabric of their world ruptured at a young age, and who longed to make emotional connections; with each other, and with audiences.

Ian Leslie traces the twists and turns of their relationship through the music it produced and offers rich insights into the nature of creativity, collaboration and human connection. Drawing on recently released footage and recordings, this is a startlingly fresh take on two of the greatest icons in music history. Leslie’s majestic and wildly enjoyable biography will make us see and hear Lennon and McCartney anew.

Published by:: Faber & Faber

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What the judges said
“John and Paul by Ian Leslie tells a story that we think we all know, of the Beatles, but it takes a set of songs, and using those songs looks at this central relationship of the band, and it weaves together musical analysis, biography and social history. It's deeply entertaining and enjoyable.

About the author

Ian Leslie is the author of acclaimed books on human psychology: Born Liars, Curious and How to Disagree. He has written for, among others, the New Statesman, Economist, New York Times and Financial Times. Ian is the author of The Ruffian, an influential Substack newsletter and podcast. He has been a Beatles fan since he was seven.