Skywriting By Word of Mouth

John Lennon wrote Skywriting by Word of Mouth, an impressive collection of writings and drawings, during Yoko Ono's pregnancy with Sean, and always planned to have it published. The book's publication was a wish that seemed to end with Lennon's assassination in 1980 and the theft of the manuscript from the Lennons' home in 1982. When it was recovered and first published in 1986, Skywriting received immediate critical and popular acclaim. Filled with Lennon's extraordinary creative powers and lavishly illustrated with his own drawings, the collection reveals his fertile creative spirit up close and in full force. Included in Skywriting are "Two Virgins," written when the public learned that John and Yoko were living together as husband and wife, and John's only autobiography, "The Ballad of John and Yoko." In addition there are notes on his falling in love with Yoko, the breakup of the Beatles, his persecution by U.S. authorities, and his withdrawal from public life. This is a book with John Lennon's spirit on every page—a spirit the world needs to remember.

“John wrote Skywriting at a time when the world was wondering whatever happened to him. Why wasn’t he writing songs anymore? Well, this is what he was busy doing… I’m glad that I can now share these writings with you. I’m sure John would be, too.” — Yoko Ono (from the afterword)
“Had he never sung a note, John Lennon still might have made his mark - as a successor to Lewis Carroll, James Joyce, and other brilliantly playful molders and expanders of the English language.” — Los Angeles Times
“Candid and scathing...A reflection of its author’s creativity and enduring appeal.” — People
“Skywriting is a thrill… Lennon at his best.” — San Jose Mercury News
“It is no wonder John Lennon’s fans grow more in love with him as time goes by...His great influence on popular music makes him impossible to forget, so does this book.” — Houston Chronicle
“Marvelous, delightful reading and for John Lennon fans a must.” — Publishers Weekly

John Lennon is an Associate Professor of English at the University of South Florida. His research is principally concerned with how marginalized individuals exert a politicized voice in collectivized actions. Dr. Lennon's monograph, Boxcar Politics: The Hobo in Literature and Culture 1869-1956 examines the hobo as a resistive working-class figure. His work has appeared in various edited volumes and journals including Cultural Studies Review, New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, American Studies, Rhizomes, and Acoma. He is currently at work on a new book length project examining conflict graffiti from a global perspective. For this project he has received various grants to travel to Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, England, Sweden, Brazil and Germany. Follow him at @hoboacademic. ORCID: 0000-0002-6472-98