Video: 'John Lennon "In His Own Write" original hardcover book 1964'

(Monday, March 23, 1964) — John Lennon’s first book, In His Own Write, was published today in Britain by Jonathan Cape.

The 80-page hardback book sold for nine shillings and sixpence, and contained 26 drawings, 31 pieces of writing, including 23 prose pieces and eight poems, and an introduction by fellow Beatle, Paul McCartney

The book was published in the U.S. on Apr. 27, 1964.

After Lennon showed journalist Michael Braun some of his writings and drawings, Braun in turn showed them to Tom Maschler of publisher Jonathan Cape, who signed Lennon in January 1964.

He wrote most of the content expressly for the book, though some stories and poems had been published years earlier in the Liverpool music publication Mersey Beat.

Lennon’s writing style is informed by his interest in English writer Lewis Carroll, while humorists Spike Milligan and “Professor” Stanley Unwin inspired his sense of humor.

His illustrations imitate the style of cartoonist James Thurber.

Many of the book’s pieces consist of private meanings and in-jokes, while also referencing Lennon’s interest in physical abnormalities and expressing his anti-authority sentiments.

The book was both a critical and commercial success, selling around 300,000 copies in Britain.