The Faces of John Lennon

London-based photographer Hoffmann first took pictures of the Beatles in 1962, and worked closely with them until 1964. The photos in this bookblack-and-white, and varying in qualityare consequently almost all from that period, although a few provide glimpses of Lennon up to 1970. Fans who haven't yet had their fill of the Beatles will enjoy this candid collection, documenting the ebullience and self-mockery characteristic of Lennon. We see him in conert, in recording studios, at press conferences, in hotel rooms in London, Paris and New York, clowning in humorous costumes. The text is confined to Hoffmann's introductory recollections and captions, which are, unfortunately, all positioned at the back of the book. Readers may miss seeing more of the other Beatles; Hoffmann's recent The Beatles Conquer America (from which some photos are reprinted here) is more satisfying in that regard. January 15