The Beatles (Paperback)

by Hunter Davies (Author) "Fred Lennon, John's father, was brought up in an orphanage..." (more)
Key Phrases: touring days, magical mystery tour, backing group, George Martin, Brian Epstein, Pete Best (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Originally published in 1968, this is a revised and updated edition of the band's authorized biography.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Since their breakup in 1969, the only band that has managed to become bigger than the Beatles is...the Beatles. Their inestimable number of fans have not been willing to let it be, and the release of the three Anthology double CD sets has put the group right back on top. amazingly, their recordings sell more copies now than at the height of Beatlemania. Written in 1968, this was the only official portrait of the group that was produced with their cooperation. For this revision, Davies has included a new introduction and three updated appendixes of Beatles places, memorabilia, and books. Though works on the band are legion, this remains one of the best.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.; 2 Revised edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393315711
• ISBN-13: 978-0393315714
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,673 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vital source, September 6, 2000

By	kennedy19 "kennedy19" (wakefield, ma USA) - See all my reviews

Thank heaven for Beatle scholarship that this book was written. Competent journalist Hunter Davies spent a year observing the Beatles and interviewing them in their own homes during the heady, fascinating year of 1967. He emerged with a time piece: the Beatles as they were at that time, reflecting on what came before and unaware of what was yet to come. A chapter describing the writing and recording of "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Getting Better," and "Magical Mystery Tour" offers unique and especially valuable glimpses of the Beatles at work. Chapters depicting the home life and personal outlook of each Beatle are also very interesting. I must also say that for an authorised biography, this is remarkably honest. Perceptive readers will be able to detect the whole truth here, and a fine introduction written by the author years later helps fill in any gaps. Apart from being hugely entertaining, this book is a tremendous boon to historians interested in the Beatles.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fab book on the Fab Four, January 27, 2000

By	"picabo1125" (New York) - See all my reviews

I finished reading this book recently and I have to say it is an excellent book. When Hunter Davies first interviewed the Beatles for this book from 1967-1968, it was before all the bickering and fighting started and before Yoko came into the picture. Davies takes an inside look in thier home and family life, the songwriting process, and recording sessions. It also gives a pretty good background on their childhoods and how they all met. Not to mention a lot of great pictures, including some I never seen before. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because it is not a totally definative bio. Lots of things were left out because it upset thier family members. For example, it is not mentioned that Brian Epstein was homosexual because it upset his mother at the time. And some things were left out of John's childhood because it upset his aunt Mimi. Other than that, I reccomend that you read this book. It is smart and thouroughly researched. A must have for all Beatles fans!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Beatles as we loved them, May 30, 2000

By	Stephen Collier (London) - See all my reviews

This is a fabulous evocation of the fab four's rise to greatness, written with just the right amount of reverence and objectivity. Davies manages to ellicit some great anecdotes from people who were closest to The Beatles. Mimi, Paul's dad, the Harrisons, close friends, Fred Lennon (John's dad), Pete Best; they all get to have their say. The book is especially strong during the Hamburg years (loosely 59-62). Davies captures the growth in their popularity, attracting interesting characters along the way, yet having no fan base outside Liverpool and Hamburg. He demonstrates so vividly the growing desperation of the boys to make it big. Once the rollercoaster took off then the book is on trickier ground. Davies clearly wants to divulge stuff which The Beatles were not keen on him revealing (Davies was writing the book during 1967/early 68). For instance, Lennon was heavily into drugs at this time and Hunter Davies refers to John as being in a daze. Yes, you have to read between the lines! One of the strengths of this book is its matter-of-fact delivery. Although Davies is clearly a fan he still keeps his feet on the ground. The death of Brian Epstein is well-handled. Remember, this was written before all the Klein, Apple, Ono nonsense hit the fan. Yet Davies manages to convey a growing sense of isolation amongst the group. His pen-portraits of each member is uncannily (eerily) accurate, bearing in mind the general public thought The Beatles were a rock-solid national institution. The book is a cracker and loses a star of its rating only because of a rather mysterious lack of detail around Rubber Soul and Revolver. The rest is gear!