Beatles Real Person Fiction - by Bethany Easton (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Bethany Easton explores Beatles Real Person Fiction (BRPF) as a significant element of 21st-century Beatles fandom through which fans connect with each other and feel more intimate with the group.

Drawing on interviews with authors and readers alongside textual analysis, this work aims to provide insight into the creation of Beatles fiction and its impact on 21st-century fans. It explores the hierarchy that is present within the fiction community and the curator role that some fans play in the production of these texts. The work utilizes case studies to explore the range of texts on offer with a focus on John Lennon due to the multitude of texts centering on him. It aims to offer more insight into the world of Beatles fiction discussing the importance of these texts within Beatles fandom.

Review Quotes

Beatles Real Person Fictionis a welcome addition to the worlds of Fan Studies and Beatles Studies alike. Through in-depth case studies drawn from the perspectives of both fanfic writers and readers, the book critically examines the nuances and complexities of the communities and subcultures that have crystallized within wider 21st-century Beatles fandom. Bethany Easton's book achieves what is increasingly difficult to do in Beatles Studies: offers genuinely new information and perspectives about the group, its fans and their enduring legacy.
Holly Tessler, Programme Leader, MA The Beatles, Heritage and Culture, University of Liverpool, UK

Bethany Easton's Beatles Real Person Fiction: The Role of Fiction in 21st-Century Beatles Fandom traverses the disquieting and provocative world of fan fiction. With skill and erudition, Easton challenges us to rethink our understanding of the role of such narratives vis-a-vis fandom, devoting much-needed attention to the places of nostalgia and romance in their construction. Easton underscores the myriad ways in which these deeply personal fictions afford their authors with the means, however artificial and illusory, of connecting with their idols.
Kenneth Womack, author of Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (Bloomsbury, 2023)

Bethany Easton's Beatles Real Person Fiction: The Role of Fiction in 21st-century Beatles Fandomshines a light into the dark nooks and crannies of eccentric Beatles fandom including fan fiction, literary fiction and slash. This is a highly original discussion on the exponentially growing myriad aspects of Fabdom. Beatles Real Person Fiction is a must read for Beatles fans and Beatles scholars. Easton explores the connections between Beatles pop culture and personal life. Her work demonstrates the extent to which fans transform the Beatles phenomenon into the web and weft of their own lives. I find this work exhilarating and engaging. Beatles Real Person Fiction is enjoyable, progressive and exciting.
Richard Mills, Associate Professor of English Literature and Popular Culture, St Mary's University, UK

About the Author

Bethany Easton is a lecturer at Cumbria University, UK, who has worked in education for over 15 years. Bethany completed her MA in the Beatles, popular music and society at Liverpool Hope University and a PhD exploring Beatles fans. She has written articles for mainstream publications on a wide range of topics including amateur dramatics, celebrating fandom and the joy animals bring to our lives.