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| From | "bryan" <munki100@pacbell.net> |
| Subject | Mark Lewisohn to write the "defining history" of the Beatles |
| Date | Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:57:55 -0700 |
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Speaking of the Beatles....
An author regarded as the world's leading authority
on the Beatles has signed a £1.2m ($NZ3.4m) deal
to write the defining history of the Fab Four after a
fierce bidding war between publishers.
Mark Lewisohn, a cultural historian who has
catalogued the entire Beatles-related recordings at
Abbey Road and written The Complete Beatles
Chronicle, is set to produce three volumes over the
next 12 years. It is understood that the publishing
house Little, Brown, part of Time Warner, fended
off stiff competition from rivals, including the Harry
Potter publishers, Bloomsbury, to acquire the trilogy.
Simon Trewin, of Peters Fraser and Dunlop, which
represents Mr Lewisohn, declined to discuss the fee.
But he insisted that the project was "a serious quality
endeavour" which was why the bidding had been so
intense.
"There will be many other books on the Beatles, but
I think that this is the lasting word. The whole point
of this book is that the Beatles are, were and will
continue to be a cultural phenomenon unlike anything
else the world has ever seen. It's not just a history of
the Beatles, but of post-war British culture. "Mark is
the person to bring the story to life. He's got a fantastic
archive and is very well connected to all the people he
needs to be to write the book. But it won't be official.
And it's not a hagiography."The first volume is likely to
be released in 2008, coinciding with Liverpool's year
as city of culture. Subsequent volumes are expected to
follow at four-yearly intervals.
Asked whether another book on the Beatles was
necessary, Paul Gambaccini, the DJ and pop expert,
said: "History will need it. They are the Mozart of our
time and in 100 years from now people will be glad
that Mark Lewisohn has done it. "He is the right person
to do it and it's best to do so while the iron is still hot.
Memories are still fresh and there can be corrections
by survivors. This is a historical record so let's get it right."
The deal shows that more than three decades after the
Beatles split up and 24 years after John Lennon was
shot dead, interest in the band shows no signs of abating.
This latest book comes only four years after the
publication of The Beatles Anthology, which was billed
as the official Beatles history through their own
reminiscences. And there is a constant flurry of releases
such as the compilation of number one hits and DVDs.
But Mr Trewin said there had been particular interest
because it was recognised this proposal was something
special.
"What publishers are looking to invest in these days is
something that is going to be quality on all levels."
Mark Lewisohn has also written a well-received biography
of Benny Hill and a history of television comedy, but he is
best known for writing on Liverpool's most famous sons.
George Martin, the legendary Beatles' producer, once wrote
that Mr Lewisohn ruled "supreme" among all those to have
chronicled the band. "Time and again he has proven that he
knows far more about what we did and when we did it than
any of us."
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