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Bloomsbury swoops on Faber staffer novella

19.05.08 Benedicte Page

A self-published novella by former Faber production controller Charles Boyle has been snapped up by Bloomsbury after attracting rave reviews from rock legend Mick Jagger, Guardian reviewer Nicholas Lezard and novelist Sally Vickers.

The 120-page novella, 24 for 3, is the story of a woman in her late thirties torn between her husband and her lover, and is played out against the background of a five-day test match between India and England. Boyle self-published it under the pen-name Jennie Walker, as the first release in his new publishing venture C B Editions.

The book sold well through independent bookshops close to Boyle’s West London home, particularly Sandoe’s, where Jagger is a regular customer and described it as “very original,” saying, “I loved it.” Boyle also popped a copy through the letterbox of neighbour Nicholas Lezard, who subsequently reviewed the book as a Guardian “paperback of the week”, calling it “a little marvel of a novella,” and “funny, clever, illuminating, deeply kind-hearted.” Unaware of the pen-name, Lezard also asked: “I wonder if it’s too late for it to go on the Orange prize shortlist?”

The review alerted Bloomsbury, which will publish the novel on August 4th. The print run is yet to be confirmed, but the publisher promises it will exceed Boyle’s own, 250 copies.

Media Benedicte Page Bloomsbury Rights deal Faber

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