A Spaniard In The Works.

LENNON, John.

Item Number: 111073

London: Jonathan Cape, 1965.

First edition of John Lennon’s second book, a collection of stories and drawings published in the same style as 1964’s In His Own Write. Small octavo, original pictorial boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by John Lennon on the front free endpaper, “For Noël Coward, John Lennon.” The recipient, English playwright, director and actor Noël Coward’s songs, plays, and films were immensely popular from the early 1920s through the 60s and 70s when they achieved renewed fame and critical acclaim with a variety of new revues celebrating his music, including Oh, Coward! on Broadway and Cowardy Custard in London. Coward won an Academy Honorary Award in 1943 for his naval film drama ‘In Which We Serve’, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1969, and received a Tony Award for lifetime achievement in 1970. With Coward’s bookplate to the pastedown. In fine condition.

Beatles biographer Bill Harry wrote that Lennon began drawing and writing creatively at an early age with the encouragement of his uncle. His love of wordplay and nonsense with a twist found a wider audience when he was 24 with the publication of his first book, In His Own Write (1964) which, in combination with A Spaniard in the Works, later formed the basis of the stage play The John Lennon Play: In His Own Write, co-adapted by Victor Spinetti and Adrienne Kennedy. After Lennon's death, further works were published, including Skywriting by Word of Mouth (1986), Ai: Japan Through John Lennon's Eyes: A Personal Sketchbook (1992), with Lennon's illustrations of the definitions of Japanese words, and Real Love: The Drawings for Sean (1999).