The most engaging, surprising and revealing look at the Beatles story you'll read.
Everyone knows a Beatles tune. But their story goes beyond the omnipresent songs and iconic albums. Theirs is a tale that has become one of the core stories we tell about ourselves as a nation. The Beatles narrative has both shaped and reflected the country we live in today. Four lads from Liverpool have taken a seat alongside Shakespeare as one of our key cultural exports to the world, a world they changed and re-made in their own image in a blaze of creativity. But these four distinct personalities changed the world not in isolation but with more than a little help from their friends.
Like all the best stories there's an incredible supporting cast, and all the most compelling elements of the great dramas: ambition, power, triumph, disaster, heartbreak, tragedy, drama, intrigue, lust...and of course, love.
Split into 3 sections, Before The Beatles, With the Beatles and Beyond the Beatles, bestselling writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie tells the epic tale of the people who made the band who made Britain, and along the way adds his own experiences, encounters and conversations that show the Beatles like you've never seen them before.
In this non-fiction masterpiece, Maconie delves into the rich culture of the 20th century, exploring the Beatles impact on modern society. With humour and a keen eye for detail, he paints a vivid picture of the famous band and their influence on the arts and entertainment industry.
For fans of Michael Palin (Erebus), Tim Hannigan (The Granite Kingdom), Helen Rebanks (The Farmer's Wife), Ben Aitken (A Chip Shop in Poznan), and Alan Bennett (Keeping On Keeping On).
HarperCollins 2025
