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A début novel by James Palumbo, the man who turned Ministry of Sound from a minor south London club into an international music brand, has been bought by Quartet.
Naim Attallah, chairman of Quartet, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Tomas for an undisclosed sum from Caroline Michel at PFD. The book will be published on 1st July.
Attallah said: “Tomas is the best work of fiction that I have read that crystallises the hypocrisy behind the current financial turmoil. It is a book that is reminiscent of the best satire that Britain has published. It is funny, profound and seductive in equal measure.” The novel traces the doings of the eponymous hero, a man firmly ensconced in a world of wealth, privilege and corruption. Attallah added: “It's such a real and unsettling book, and at the same time very prescient. He writes in a very visceral style that is uncompromising in its narrative. It really is a mindbending book that will astonish and intrigue.”
Palumbo first met Attallah 20 years ago when Attallah was chief executive of luxury goods store Asprey. Michel offered Quartet the book during a meeting five months ago.
“James had made a great success of his life since I last saw him,” said Attallah. “Normally what I do is read any book within 24 hours and always give an answer. So I read it, loved it, and said I wanted to do it.”
A website promoting the book is at www.tomas-book.com. Palumbo now operates branding company MSHK Group, which includes dance brands Hedkandi and Euphoria alongside Ministry of Sound.