John Lennon letters to be published in October 2012

John Lennon's previously unpublished letters will finally appear in print. Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, has agreed to help compile a collection of the singer's correspondence, including postcards and doodles, to be published in October 2012, the Guardian said.

As the book's publisher points out, Lennon never sent an email. "Pen and ink were his medium," Little, Brown explained. "John wrote letters and postcards all of his life; to his friends, family, strangers, newspapers, organizations, lawyers and the laundry – most of which were funny, informative, campaigning, wise, mad, poetic, anguished and sometimes heartbreaking."

This is the first time that Ono has consented to publish his letters. The anthology will be edited by Hunter Davies, the official Beatles biographer, using Ono's archive and letters from private collections. The Lennon Letters will be printed in chronological order so that a narrative builds up", and many will be reproduced exactly "in [Lennon's] handwriting or typing, plus the odd cartoon or doodle."

Davies has tracked down about 200 letters and postcards so far.