Most often, John Lennon is recalled as the brash and iconoclastic Beatle, and then as a free-spirited solo artist. But who was this Liverpool lad, really? From his fatherless childhood in World War II Britain through his transformative time in Germany as a teen, this anecdotal biography charts how Lennon developed his rebellious streak. In a warm though frank appraisal, Ray Connolly follows Lennon through his short yet full life, telling some intriguing lesser known tales as he speculates on the combination of vulnerability, creativity, and independence that fueled Lennon's artistic work.