Baby's In Black back

This is a rather affecting and moving biography of Astrid Kirchherr and Stuart Sutcliffe, and their all too brief time together, from just before they first met in Hamburg whilst Stuart was touring with the Beatles in late 1960, through to his untimely demise in April 1962. You probably need at least a passing interest in the era, and also the Beatles, to really appreciate the careful nuanced reconstruction by Arne Bellstorf of the events that take place in this work, but it's just a joy to read. Whilst we're not learning anything new here of course, it does makes perfect emotional sense of Stuart's decision to quit the band and pursue his art and a life with Astrid. And the rest of the Beatles - John, Paul, George and Pete (Best) as they were then - are well rounded out and portrayed in their secondary roles that they rightfully have here, without detracting from the main story.

I did also on the whole love Bellstorf's black and white, genteel, almost pastel-like art, though - and perhaps it is slightly churlish of me to mention it - there were a couple of minor things repeated in almost every panel of artwork which by the end somewhat did my head in. I won't mention precisely what they were because I don't want to plant seeds in anybody's mind but it did detract from the work for me fractionally. Once anyone has read it, if you want to mention you have to me, I'll reveal all and I would be intrigued to see whether you agree or disagree.