‘With the Beatles: Illustrated Journey’ Book Coming From Insider Mal Evans’ Archives

Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans is from the Beatles’ longtime confidante.

A second book is coming from the archives of Mal Evans, the Beatles’ beloved friend, road manager, and confidant. With the Beatles: Mal Evans’ Illustrated Journey will be published on Dec. 1, 2026, via HarperPop. The 448-page title, from noted Beatles scholar and author Kenneth Womack, is the follow-up to his acclaimed Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans, published in 2023 in conjunction with Evans’ family and estate. The new book is available to order in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.

From the publisher’s announcement: A four-color extravaganza from the Evans archives, including excerpts from his never-published (and humorously illustrated) diaries, a full reproduction of his original memoir manuscript, and hundreds of unseen photographs he took during his time with the Beatles. Truly a goldmine of new insight into the most famous band in the world, from a man who knew them better than most.

Malcolm “Mal” Evans was an integral figure in the lives of The Beatles, acting as everything from roadie and assistant to confidante and, above all else, friend. Even after the band’s split, Evans remained close to each member as they ventured out into solo careers, though he was closest to Paul McCartney. And through it all, he kept a detailed diary.

By 1974, “Big Mal” was determined to make his name as a songwriter and record producer, setting off for a new life in Los Angeles, where he penned his memoirs. He took what is said to be the last known photo of Paul McCartney and John Lennon together, in March 1974 during Lennon’s so-called “lost weekend,” not necessarily realizing its significance at the time.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Harry Nilsson, and May Pang in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 29, 1974 (Photo: Malcolm Frederick Evans Archive; used with permission)

In the 1970s, Mal made a deal with a publisher for a memoir, and the typed manuscript he submitted remained in that publisher’s basement until it was discovered by a temp, tasked with cleaning out a storage unit. Along with the manuscript, the temp discovered an amazing collection of photographs and diaries. Instead of throwing them away as instructed, the temp sent a letter to Yoko Ono, who quickly responded. Yoko retrieved the materials, and returned them to Evans’ family in England. Unfortunately, Mal had taken his life years prior, on Jan. 5, 1976, at age 40, in a drug-fueled showdown with the police.

The new book is a visual celebration of Evans’ archives, which the family brought to Womack in 2020. Once thought lost forever, this holy grail for Beatles die-hards is being shared for the first time. Womack provides annotated excerpts of Evans’ memoir manuscript, the first-hand account of life with the world’s most important band through the eyes of the man that was there for it all, and bits from his diaries showing the comings, goings, recording schedules, and personal appointments of John, Paul, Ringo, and George, their life as a group, time on the road, and lives after their dissolution.

2026’s With the Beatles: Mal Evans’ Illustrated Journey is available to order in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here. 2023’s Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans is available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.

Womack has written extensively about the Beatles. In addition to such titles as Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (2007), The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014), and Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles (2019), he is the author of a two-volume biography devoted to the life and work of Beatles producer George Martin, Maximum Volume (2017) and Sound Pictures (2018).