News

Transworld acquires Faber Academy alumnus

07.09.11 | Charlotte Williams

Transworld has acquired a debut novel by British scriptwriter Rachel Joyce, a graduate of Faber Academy's novel writing course, in a two-book deal.

Transworld publishing director Susanna Wadeson acquired world English rights to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry through Clare Conville at Conville and Walsh, selling US rights to Kendra Harpster and Susan Kamil of Dial Press/Random House Publishing Group USA.

The novel tells the story of recently retired Harold Fry, who sets out one morning to post a letter to a dying friend. Acting on an impulse, he finds himself at the start of a journey which will lead him to walk miles from home and meet strangers that will change his life—and whose lives he will also change.

Joyce said the novel started as a radio play she wrote seven years ago when her father was dying of cancer. She also took part in Faber Academy's novel writing course "as a way of committing, and finding confidence".

Wadeson said: "This is simply an exquisite novel: moving, poignant, tantalising, and at the same time rich and earthy and comic. Harold Fry is such an immediately affecting character. Everyone here at Transworld who has read it—and there are many of us—has fallen in love."

Doubleday will publish as a lead title in the UK in May 2012.

 

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.thebookseller.com/trackback/52729

Comments: Scroll down for the latest comments and to have your say

By posting on this website you agree to the Bookseller comments policy. Comments go direct to live please be relevant, brief and definitely not abusive. Report any "unsuitable comments by clicking the links"

Post new comment

Due to persistent spam problems we are now asking users to register before submitting comments. If you have already registered or are a subscriber then please log in now. Otherwise you can use the simple form below to register when you submit your comment. Your comment will go live once you click the validation link in the email. Comments still go live without moderation.
You should use this name when logging into your account.
This name will be displayed when you comment on the site.
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <br> <p> <img>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

Type the characters you see in this picture. (verify using audio)
Type the characters you see in the picture above; if you can't read them, submit the form and a new image will be generated. Not case sensitive.

Latest Jobs

Editor
Quid Publishing, part of the Quarto...
Competitive
Assistant Editor
The Royal Academy of Arts is one of...
£23,950 plus attractive benefits
Sales Manager: Healthcare
A prestigious scientific membership...
Available on request
 

TheBookseller