Icon snaps up Gillian Best's 'fascinating' book on chronic pain
Icon has acquired Chronic: Understanding Pain by Gillian Best.
The publisher secured UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada and including audio, from Anna Pallai at AMP Literary, and the book will be published in March 2026.
The synopsis says: "By 2022, Best was sick of waiting for a solution to the pain that was ruining her life. Living for years with two autoimmune diseases, an article about German researcher Georg Schett’s use of CART-cell therapy to treat lupus shone as a beacon of hope for Best in the darkness of daily pain.
"Unfortunately, this trial never would have worked for her because of the lack of cellular target, but this didn’t stop Best from seeking answers and a cure, while sharing her discoveries with all who might be interested."
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The blurb adds: "Chronic isn’t a self-help title, but an accumulation of patient-led research ready to be shared with other sufferers. Talking directly to researchers about their cutting-edge work, this book conveys the dedication of others to seek a cure, or at the very least better treatment, to this debilitating condition and offers the average person a look behind the curtain."
Connor Stait, head of general publishing for Icon, said: "Chronic pain is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed or just missed altogether. In this fascinating book, Gillian offers a tantalising glimpse into cutting-edge research and offers a real message of hope. I’m thrilled that Icon Books is publishing it."
Best added: "I’m so excited to be working with Icon Books to shed light on some of the latest research in chronic pain with the millions of people – like me – who suffer with it every day. Being a patient in pain is miserable but there’s so much cause for hope here."
