Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon

According to Elliot Mintz, Rosen was one of the witting conspirators in 'Project Walrus', in which John Lennon's personal journals were stolen from the Dakota shortly after his death. According to Rosen, he was set up by others; and has paid a high price. Whatever the facts, his book, 'Nowhere Man' demonstrates that these documents did come into his possession; and accordingly, along with Guiliano's 'Lennon In America', presents one of the most accurate portrayals of Lennon's last years available. But the diaries are far from his only source of information. During eighteen years of research, Rosen interviewed many of the key people in Lennon's household, including Yoko Ono and John's two children. The result is a beautifully-presented work which deserves to be read by anybody interested in the truth behind the Beatles.

Highly readable (4/4 people found this helpful)

Rosen charts the last 5 years of this musical genius and more particularly the last year of his life. The story of his quest is quite dramatic, as all the direct research material that he acquired initially was stolen and he had to start again from scratch without the direct source material. The book is thus based on public writings and interviews, the historical record, the music and conversations with staff, business associates, family, friends and lovers of Lennon, including Yoko, Sean and Julian.

He retraces Lennon's steps through Liverpool, London, New York and Bermuda and tries to paint a picture of daily life in the Dakota building overlooking Central Park. It is interesting to know that John read the 3 New York Dailies but also loved the supermarket tabloids like the National Enquirer, Midnight Globe and the National Star. The book is quite detailed on the recording process of the Double Fantasy album.

The last chapters narrate the murder of Lennon by Mark Chapman and the trial, at which Chapman quoted from Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye.

It is an interesting book but it must be noted that lots of it is based on the author's imagination and shouldn't be taken as fact. A gripping read, nevertheless, and the text is made accessible to students of Lennon's life by a thorough index.

LENNON RIPPED OFF BY NOVICE (0/1 people found this helpful)

This book is ... written by a New York cabbie who moonlights as a writer. No illustrations. Author admits he made much of it up. Bad news all the way round. If you like Lennon read Geoffrey Giuliano's masterful LENNON IN AMERICA.

Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon

Robert Rosen

Reader Reviews:

Deserves a reconsideration... (1/1 people found this helpful)

Highly readable (4/4 people found this helpful)

LENNON RIPPED OFF BY NOVICE (0/1 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories