Lennon rant fails to sell

LONDON, England -- An angry letter written by John Lennon to Paul McCartney at the time The Beatles broke up has failed to sell at auction.

The hand-written letter, which sheds light on the split, failed to attract its reserve price at a pop memorabilia sale at Christie's in London.

Bids for the letter, which revealed the depth of animosity Lennon felt towards McCartney when the Fab Four split, fell £13,000 ($19,000) short of the £65,000 ($96,000) asking price

Christie's pop memorabilia expert Sarah Hodson said: "We are disappointed. However the Lennon letter was very, very special. Obviously we would expect it to sell again."

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The draft six-page letter to Paul and Linda McCartney, littered with spelling mistakes, deletions and expletives, reveals Lennon's views on several issues.

It expresses anger and hurt at the other Beatles' treatment of him and Yoko Ono, disdain for Linda, frustration and exasperation with numerous issues, to a palpable affection for Paul McCartney.

Though not dated, the letter is believed to have been written around 1970-71 although it is not known if it was ever sent.

Written at Lennon's Berkshire mansion, Tittenhurst Park, the letter apparently responds to one sent by Linda in which she castigated Lennon for derogatory remarks made to the press about Paul and The Beatles.

Lennon airs his disenchantment with some of the trappings of The Beatles' fame, including the Fab Four's acceptance of MBE awards in 1965.

He accuses McCartney of letting their success go to his head and for believing that they alone sparked the youth revolution.

"Of course we changed the world -- but try and follow it through -- get off your gold disc and fly," Lennon writes.

But he signs off on a tender note saying " ... inspite (sic) of it all, love to you both, from us two."

The relationship between McCartney and Lennon, who was shot dead in New York in 1980 by a deranged fan, was known to have been strained during and after the break-up of The Beatles.

Lennon's notorious song "How Do You Sleep?" in which he snarled, "The only thing you did was yesterday, And since your gone you're just another day," reflects his feelings at the time.