In His Own Write

‘In His Own Write’ is a book by John Lennon first published on 23 March 1964. It consists of short stories and poems, and line drawings, often surreal and always nonsensical. The book was the first solo project by one of the members of The Beatles in any creative medium. It was followed in 1965 by ‘A Spaniard in the Works’.

The book was also transformed into a play, co-authored with Victor Spinetti, who directed, at the National Theatre, premiering on 18 June 1968, at the Old Vic. Spinetti and Lennon appeared together in June 1968 on BBC2’s Release. During the interview, Spinetti said of the play, “it’s not really John’s childhood, it’s all of ours really, isn’t it John?” John Lennon, assuming a camp voice answered “It is, we’re all one Victor, we’re all one aren’t we. I mean ‘what’s going on?’.” Spinetti said the play “is about the growing up of any of us; the things that helped us to be more aware.”