{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6b2fc9ba-b9b7-4b7a-b980-e0024facd926/67d8128723437cd73832e513?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"How The Beatles' love story shaped the 20th Century","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61b9f75c1a8cbe0c083cee79/1742213003066-a456e58a-0028-4f53-ac99-74f174a9466e.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>A fateful meeting at a village fête \"tilted\" the 20th Century \"on its axis\"</p><p><br></p><p>So argues Ian Leslie in his new book, <em>John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs.</em></p><p><br></p><p>In the book, Leslie argues that The Beatles didn't just dominate pop culture - they redefined how we see ourselves.</p><p><br></p><p>He reframes the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney as a kind of love story, which shaped the second half of the 20th Century and continues to influence us today.</p><p><br></p><p>Leslie joins Kate Mossman on Culture from the New Statesman to discuss the book, The Beatles and their legacy.</p><p><br></p><p><em>John &amp; Paul: A Love Story in Songs </em>is available from March 27 in book shops and online. <a href=\"https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/john-and-paul-a-love-story-in-songs-ian-leslie/7751121?ean=9780571376117\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Pre-order it here</a>*</p><p><br></p><p>The author Deborah Levy <a href=\"https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/book-of-the-day/2025/03/beatles-brilliant-friendship-ian-leslie-john-and-paul\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">has reviewed the book for <em>New Statesman</em></a><em>. </em>Her review is available to read online now, and will appear in the March 20 issue of the <em>New Statesman</em> magazine.</p><p><br></p><p>Get full access to all the <em>New Statesman</em>'s cultural reviews - as well as our leading politics and global affairs reporting - by becoming a subscriber from just £8.99 per month. Visit <a href=\"https://secure.newstatesman.com/offer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">www.newstatesman.com/offer</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Get the best of the <em>New Statesman</em> direct to your inbox every weekend for FREE by signing up to our newsletter, The Saturday Read. Visit <a href=\"saturdayread.substack.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">saturdayread.substack.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>*<em>Purchasing a book may earn the New Statesman a commission from Bookshop.org, who support independent bookshops.</em></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The New Statesman"}