The Lyrics

This visual autobiography, a self-portrait in 154 songs from musician Paul McCartney, developed through conversations with poet Paul Muldoon, certainly made an impression on the judges: “A work of art”; “a unique piece of publishing”; and a book that “belongs in a museum, not just our bookshelves.”

The judges praised the two-volume set as a “fantastic visual diary”, singling out the original hand-written lyrics. The book was supported by a free exhibition at the British Library and McCartney in conversation at the Southbank Royal Festival Hall. Allen Lane co-ordinated a global launch, simultaneously in 11 languages, attaining extensive broadsheet and radio coverage. What could have been a niche publication for fans of The Beatles became a bestseller and a major cultural moment, topping 70,000 copies through Nielsen’s TCM.