John Lennon's private letters to be published in 2012

 

In the Beatles’ song “Across the Universe,” John Lennon famously sang that “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,” and next year a slew of the former Beatle’s words that flowed onto paper in the form of his private letters will be collected in a volume to be published by London-based Orion Books, according to the Guardian in London.

Orion bought the rights from Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, to about 150 letters filling hundreds of pages that Lennon wrote over the years to friends, fans and business associates. The physical letters have been in the possession of Beatles biographer Hunter Davies, but Ono controls the intellectual property rights to them.

"These letters have never been collected in one place before, and for the most part they have never been seen before," Orion Publishing Group executive Alan Samson told the Guardian. "The other reason people have gone crazy for it is the fact that there are half a dozen icons of the 20th century –- Marilyn Monroe, Kennedy, Elvis –- and Lennon is one of them."

Orion plans to publish them in October 2012 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' first hit single, “Love Me Do.” The price Samson and Orion paid has not been specified, but is said to be between 500,000 and 1 million pounds, or between $800,000 and $1.6 million U.S. dollars.

"They are full of wonderful drawings,” Samson said. “They are funny, sad ... they are very human letters."

-- Randy Lewis

Photo of John Lennon in 1980. Credit: David Spindel/PBS

Comments

[Cachi]

And it will be realese also in america. Or only ne UK?

[jagexxx]

Being that Yoko has control over what is released, I'm sure there will be no embarrassing or pro- McCartney type missives ("I need Paul to write a decent song".)!

[Alf Walters]

I wonder how much money Yoko is making from this? I have read many times how she cashes in on Lennon's name and work but then, I suppose she deserves the money. I think that Julian and Cynthia should also make some money from the late genius.
Certain dead celebrities or icons make more money from the grave then when alive like Elvis, James Dean, Monroe, Cobain and others.
But then Lennon was a man of infinate talent and opinions and the world loves to know as much as they can about him.

[Letters]

In the Beatles’ song “Across the Universe,” John Lennon famously singer . i love to listen his songs.

[Taylor]

I honestly doubt it will be anything that distorts the image of "Saintly" John. Real fans know who he was, I'm really sick of the mainstream fans though.