Prince Harry's Memoir: A World Publishing Phenomenon

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

There will likely be several bashing threads on Harry's memoir before it is published, but I am interested in discussing with anyone who is interested in the very interesting marketing choices of the publishers and their approach.

English language editions of SPARE will be published on 10 January 2023 in EIGHT territories: the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada.

The book will also be published in translation in 15 additional languages:

SPANISH Plaza & Janés/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
GERMAN Penguin Verlag/Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe GmbH, PORTUGUESE BRAZIL Objetiva/Grupo Companhia das Letras
PORTUGUESE PORTUGAL Objectiva/Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, SIMPLIFIED CHINESE Penguin Random House China
DANISH Politikens Forlag
DUTCH Hollands Diep, an imprint of Overamstel
FINNISH Otava Publishing Company Ltd
FRENCH Éditions Fayard
GREEK Pedio Books
HUNGARIAN Corvina Kiadó
ITALIAN Mondadori,
POLISH Wydawnictwo Marginesy,
ROMANIAN Nemira Publishing House,
SWEDISH Albert Bonniers Förlag.

This is absolutely sensational as it means it will be simultaneously published in 23 territories on the same day.

There are not many books where simultaneous release occurs in different markets. From this, I would say that the book will more than earn its advance, just from the foreign sales alone.

They also chose a banger of a title as it puts focus on the troubling notion of the Spare in a system based on primogeniture, and one that imbues both intrinsic and extrinsic value based on a person's birth order.

Imagine growing up knowing that no matter how loved you may be, your constitutional role is ultimately to be the spare to the heir.

Can't wait to read it!

I'll read it - sounds really interesting.

It will blow the bottom out of the 'royal expert' book market - who will be interested in reading that hearsay and tripe when you can hear from the real thing?

"who will be interested in reading that hearsay and tripe when you can hear from the real thing?"
Real thing? Depends if you believe a word he says, I suppose.

Imagine growing up knowing that no matter how loved you may be, your constitutional role is ultimately to be the spare to the heir

Yes, it’s just the worst life I can possibly imagine….

What rubbish. They are incredibly privileged yet spend their days whinging and complaining about everyone and everything. Zero sympathy from me

Why would I waste my money to read a book full of lies? Everything that has come out of Harry & Meghan's mouth have been proven to be lies. They disgust me.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy

Indeed. This will be the first ever book on a Royal Family member that I will buy after the Morton Diana one back in the day.

Incidentally, I am now singing "I'm looking for a mind at work", thanks to your name :)

Who cares ?

I am not sure why you believe you are required or compelled to buy it?

In case you missed the memo, you are not compelled to buy this, or indeed, any other book. Hope that helps!

Absolutely sensational? It’s a book.

I find, as a rule of thumb, that when people take the time to read a thread, and then comment "Who cares?" it generally shows that they do care, but are made angry at what they are reading.

Because the normal response when seeing something you don't care about is not to post "Who cares?" but to stroll on by.😛

I’ve never read a royal title and until now I never thought I would. But this is one book I will be throwing my support behind.

If you know enough about publishing, yes, it is absolutely sensational to have a book come out in several markets at once. The only books I can think of where that has happened recently are Michelle Obama's book, and the last three or four Harry Potter books.

I am not commenting on the book as sensational - I have not read it - but on the publishing approach that shows this will be a publishing phenomenon.

I'm actually quite interested in reading it and I've not really got much interest in the royal family. Not that I am anti royal either. But he's had an interesting life and I think it will make a good book.

So much has been written about H&M from third parties, I think this book will definitely be a best seller - coming straight from him.

Looking forward to it.

I agree about the marketing, its going to be covered in depth in multiple markets simultaneously including some that are increasingly anti royal like Australia. It's an absolute gift to the 24/7 news channels who will compete to cover all the gory details with no thought on impact just about viewer numbers. And as you say the title tells you a lot about the positioning.

I actually feel sorry for PH, I believe (obviously just my opinion) he really didn't know what he was agreeing to. Basically thinking he was in control but not realizing that the punisher would actual control the final release. He's played with fire, and I predict he'll be frozen out even more once it's released.

I'm not a huge royalist but from a father/son/brother/family perspective it's very sad to see

I'm looking forward to a blow by blow account of everything that is in the book, given to us by media outlets and places like here. Then I won't have to read it.

I think it is a big deal, I can see why people are getting angry because it is going to get a lot of attention.

The book has international implications in terms of national image.

Do you think the Royal Family already know what is in it, or will they get an advance copy, or will they be reading it cold on 23rd Jan? Will the newspapers get advance copies?

When it is available on Amazon to pre-order? I want a copy

I'm pumped to read this! I actually really like Prince Harry, even more so since he's taken a stand against his mad relatives. Go Team Hazza!

It's not that unusual for a non-fiction book to be published in different markets simultaneously if a significant proportion of its advance is expected to be recouped through media serialisation rights.

£28?

No way. That's an insane price. Especially as all the news sites will drop excerpts into their publications (of the most interesting bits).

Possibly I'll borrow it from the library when it hits.

Possibly I'll loan the audiobook version if he narrates it as he has a nice voice.

I feel like this.

I actually think this will be interesting because it's about birth place,ent rather than right iyswim?

And I do believe the RF now believe it's outdated and it did have an effect on Harry - hence changing it for Charlotte when she born (although she's still a spare she isn't bottom on the pile after her younger brother!).

I don't have any plans to read it myself, I'm sure I'll read many details online. I usually fall for these 'tell all' books and they never deliver.

Personally I don't think this book or even their Netflix drama needs much publicity, there are many people who are intrigued to know details of behind the scenes of the Royals that us public don't know or get to see.

As another poster said, it may very well be lies, I've doubted a lot of what the two of them said, especially when they were caught out on many of their lies. He can say what he wants in a book, we don't know if it's true or not, whereas with their netflix documentary, I'm more interested in seeing that, especially now, as they've both released many statements saying it's not showing them correctly and they've tried having it edited more to their liking, the camera never lies.

Well, I don't think the rf have any advance copies. The 'royal source' would have already spilled the beans if that was the case.

As for the £28, I suspect that is a marketing strategy, and will be dropped to a 'steal' of around £18 or less later on. Happens all the time. The publishers will be happy to pocket the extra tenner from pre-sales though.

I did wonder about the after xmas publishing date. My thoughts are that there is too much going on around that time, with Christmas books, gifts and all sorts of marketing going on etc. so 'dry January' it is. When no one has anything going on really - they can concentrate on this book then.

Given H and M’s feelings about the British media , I wonder if any of them will publish excerpts?

I can predict with absolute certainty that British tabloids will not be licensed to publish excerpts of Harry's memoir.

They will probably go for excerpts in Vanity Fair, GQ, etc. It is a book that is likely to be high embargoed,