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Faber has acquired the second book from Guardian journalist Emma Brockes, an as yet untitled non-fiction book. Hannah Griffiths, director of paperback publishing, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada; EU exclusive and incl serial rights) through Simon Trewin at United Agents. The title tells the story of something that happened in Brockes' mother's family fifty years ago.
North America rights were sold to Ann Godoff at the Penguin Press, at auction, by Zoe Pagnamenta at the Zoe Pagnamenta Agency. Dutch rights were bought by Arbeiderspers, and German rights by DTV, both at auction by Jessica Craig at United Agents.
Griffiths said: "This was a stand-out submission for me. Emma is an extraordinary writer who happened to find herself presented with a very dramatic story that only she could tell. But to describe this book as memoir would be like describing Stasiland as a history book, or Stuart: A Life Backwards as biography. The way she handles the material is as unique as the story itself. I absolutely loved it."
Griffiths added: "It is to do with abuse, but it is not a misery memoir. Emma's mum's family suffered at the hands of a maniac, but the narrative is one step removed from that."
Brockes writes for Guardian's Weekend magazine, among other publications, and currently lives in New York.
Faber will publish in early 2012.