Viking is to publish two books by US novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout, whose book Olive Kitteridge (Simon & Schuster) was turned into an HBO miniseries.

Publishing director Venetia Butterfield acquired the books from Penguin Random House USA.

Viking said it plans a major campaign to launch Strout, a bestseller in the US, in the UK, including broadsheet profile interviews, national radio interviews and an author visit with major literary events on publication.

The first book in the deal, My Name is Lucy Barton, will be published on 4th February 2016.

The book is about a hospital visit that provides a window into the relationship between Lucy Barton and her mother, whom she has not seen in many years.

A short story collection will follow in July 2017.

Butterfield said: “I’ve been recommending Elizabeth Strout’s books to people for years, she is simply one of the finest authors writing today. So it’s thrilling to finally be able to publish her, and to bring her to the wider UK audience that she deserves.”

The HBO miniseries “Olive Kitteridge” won six prizes at this year’s Emmy Awards.

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• Viking
• Elizabeth Strout
• Venetia Butterfield
• Penguin Random House