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Head of Zeus has acquired the debut novel by Sir Christopher Bland, the chairman of Canongate Books.
Senior editor Rosie de Courcy signed UK and Commonwealth rights in Ashes in the Wind from Michael Sissons at PFD.
Ashes in the Wind tells the story of two tribes, the Anglo-Irish Burkes and the Catholic Irish Sullivans, from 1919 to 2010.
De Courcy said ‘This is a novel where scene after scene gave me goosebumps. Not only because it is beautifully written but because it has so many echoes of my own family's Irish history. It feels like a book that I was born to publish.'
Anthony Cheetham commented: "Ashes in the Wind is a first-rate piece of storytelling, about two childhood friends who find themselves on opposing sides in Ireland’s troubles. It has a special meaning for me, since Christopher was once my Chairman during a time which saw Century Publishing turn from a staff of 25 into a major publishing house with a staff of 500 in three continents."
Head of Zeus will published in hardback, export trade paperback and e-book in September 2014.
Bland is also is a former chairman of the BBC, BT, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Century Hutchinson publishing.