cover image John Lennon (Pop Culture) (Oop)

John Lennon (Pop Culture) (Oop)

Bruce W. Conord. Chelsea House Publications, $22.95 (127pp) ISBN 978-0-7910-1739-5

The debut title in the publisher's Pop Culture Legends series combines attractive design, numerous well-captioned photos and clear writing to introduce readers to one of the music industry's most influential figures. Conord traces the much-publicized developments in the life of John Lennon, from his tumultuous childhood through his glory days as part of the most successful band in music history to his murder by Mark David Chapman in 1980. Lennon's career with the Beatles is intelligently integrated, with Conord navigating the series of legal and personal troubles that plagued the band and its members. In tracing these stories, he provides both a picture of the rise and fall of a pop music phenomenon and an in-depth study of Lennon and his art. The author does not shrink from the darker side of Lennon's personality, detailing his periods of drug use, his troubled relationships with friends and family, and his struggles with depression. By contrasting these qualities with Lennon's strong commitment to peace and his love of music, Conord portrays a man caught between inner demons and a desire to offer a lasting contribution to the world. Reliable and informative. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)