In the mid-1960s- when so much was happening in the world and the volume everywhere seemed dialed up to 11- the Beatles were the biggest thing on the planet. Their fans screamed from the fences as the Fab Four walked across the airport tarmac or into a vast stadium. They wanted to touch the Beatles. They wanted to know the Beatles. Who might help them?****One photographer was inside. The young Australian Robert Whitaker had been noticed by Beatles manager Brian Epstein- who then hired him. When Beatlemania exploded- Whitaker was along for the wild ride. He was backstage- he was in the studio- he went to the boys* homes- he became their friend and confidante (He grew particularly close to John). Robert Whitaker fashioned many of the iconic Beatles images- and all his pictures of the band were taken in the period that Beatles fans most like to remember: when they were fab- when they changed our culture. ****Bob Whitaker-a great photographer- after all-was a friend of LIFE*s and made contributions to earlier books on John Lennon and George Harrison. In the months before his death in September 2011- he was collaborating with us on this book- his Beatles magnum opus. In these pages are rarely or never seen photographs and his personal reflections- which add resonance to the images. For those who once wanted to touch the Beatles- wanted to know them- this is an essential document.****It is full of vitality. Beatlemania was a crazy- crazy place to be- and it is captured here in all its nutty glory. Then- too- there are the famous Whitaker album covers- including the early drafts of the notorious-and banned-Yesterday and Today jacket. It is LIFE*s good fortune- and it will be our readers*- that Bob Whitaker talked about all this with us and others through the years. His testimony is that of a proverbial fifth Beatle: He was there- part of the scene. He saw it all- he recorded much of it on film- and he remembered even more.****Here- then- is Bob Whitaker*s final word on the Beatles-all his best photographs- all his reminiscences. LIFE is proud to bring forth this book. It does what we always try to do-present great photography-and it also pays tribute to a bygone time- a bygone band that we all loved- and a man who was a dear friend. ***** Hardcover: 304 pages*** Publisher: Life (September 25- 2012)*** Language: English*** ISBN-10: 1603202315*** ISBN-13: 978-1603202312*** Product Dimensions: 13.6 x 10.4 x 1.2 inches **