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W&N buys Joanna Lumley memoir

24.02.11 | Graeme Neill

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has bought rights to an illustrated memoir by actress Joanna Lumley, which will be published this autumn.

Michael Dover, Orion's outgoing non-fiction editorial in chief bought world rights from Anthony Goff at David Higham Associates. Up Close and Personal will be published in October 2011.

Dover said: "To work with Joanna Lumley has to be every publisher's dream. Not only is she ultra-professional, hard working and savvy, she is also a very good writer indeed. She has hoarded, happily, the many photographs and memorabilia that encompass the many aspects of her idiosyncratic life and career. I have no doubt this will prove a fascinating book."

Lumley is best known for her roles as Patsy in "Absolutely Fabulous" and Purdey in "The New Avengers". Other television and film credits include "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "Sensitive Skin", "Sapphire & Steel", "Class Act", "Cold Comfort Farm", "Jam & Jerusalem" and "Mistresses". She has also campaigned as a human rights activist for Survival International and the recent Gurkha Justice campaign.

Lumley said: "I have never tried to mix words and pictures before. I love writing and have far too many photographs so I am looking forward to the challenge of putting them together in a book."

The actress' 2004 book, No Room for Secrets (Michael Joseph), sold more than 100,000 copies across all formats.

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