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!

You mean he should follow the lead of every other Royal?

oh no wait - none of them do that 🙄

I used to really like both Harry and Meghan. They were a breath of fresh air. I truly believe that they could have done great things for the royal family, or indeed as part of their lives in the USA.

But they really did throw it all away because of their own spite and jealousy. Their interviews, podcasts, and so on are rage reads/ listens. Nobody wants to hear about their philanthropy; they want to hear them dish the dirt on Harry's family. They'll never be taken seriously now.

Its just the opposite side of your all haters and racists.

It’s probably because the tone of the ‘supportive’ posts is often so peculiar and out of sync. Some of the supporters seem to be armed with a litany of pre-prepared arguments, which are supplied in turn, as though they are consulting some sort of crib sheet. Many also try to encourage defamatory posts against other royals, almost as though they had a personal vendetta. Some spend hours daily on these threads - almost as though it were a full time job. And we know that Meghan and Harry are obsessed with criticism online, they have supported initiatives to shut down and censor online critics. All this and more contributes to the impression that their supporters are paid.

And after all, if you look at other threads critical of celebrities, you never see blind fanatics defending them, arguing every point in turn et etc. It’s a peculiar phenomenon.

I also like Harry very much, and Meghan too. I find their projects interesting, have preordered the memoir in the three languages I read, just for the hell of it, and I am very much looking forward to reading it, especially in German!

Impressive! I am genuinely impressed that you would read the same book in different languages. I guess the motivation comes from the interest in a particular topic/subject.

I'm impressed that anyone has the money to buy 3 versions of the same book. I guess the cost of living crisis hasn't hit everyone.

Because it's my field of work and I like to compare translations. And because I love languages, 🤗

Another whinge fest from Harry. Will be interested to see if he has toned it down re dad and camilla in the hope of titles for the kids

Susan12345678

Another thing is, that the user names look like they've bought an app which generates upper middle class words and strung them together to make user names.

When I say upper middle class words, I mean words/cliches which are distinctly associated with their traditions: countryside and literary references.

Then these posts tend to say, "My goodness people are sounding angry..." to adopt a reasonable tone and to bounce the respondent into a position of being hysterical, which they are always able to defend with even greater logic, laying aside their Friday night brain, and justifying their views with the finesse and insight they usually reserve for work.

Meghan and Harry fans then say, "Well you sound very interested in the couple; they must be very fascinating and exciting", to which the obvious reply is, " No, they have just dissed our Queen, called her family racist, and dumped a load of problems on the institution which has gifted them their money-generating capability.

Then a completely new thread is started: "Aren't Meghan and Harry really doing rather well in their quiet and understated way?".

Lol😆

thanks for these, I will look them up as I tend to read literary memoirs published in the US, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

@Xenia If I were a translator I suppose I might out of professional interest to compare the 3 different language versions. It might even be a business expense to buy all 3 copies if I were a translator

No, not a business expense. Just an expense! I just buy a lot of books every month. And I tend to buy the occasional book in the three languages I read because I am interested in translation as an art. It always amuses me that books are invariably longer in German!

@Legrandsophie What strikes me is that the OP is seemingly speaking without knowing the first thing about the publishing industry or the literary genre of memoir.

What have I said about publishing that makes you think I don't know the first thing about publishing? And about memoirs?

I read a lot more memoirs from the US than the UK, yes, I have said that, and I love literary memoirs, and have received some good recommendations. Beyond that, what have I said about memoirs and publishing that is not true? Thanks!

@MrsMaxDeWinter

Are you based in the US?

It's certainly going to be interesting.

Can’t wait to buy my MIL a copy for Christmas 😁 She’s currently hidden on FB because all she does is post snarky comments about H&M on newspaper articles and it floods my timeline.

The OP reads just like a press release 🤔

No I am not, but I have studied, lived and worked there and do some work with US publishers.

I believe there are teams of 'Reputation Managers' infiltrating sites such as these, it's extremely irritating and makes it difficult to have a reasoned debate

😏

@MrsMaxDeWinter

That makes sense. Because across all your threads you seem to be more focused on the US then the U.K. (except to say negative things).

You appear to prefer US phraseology and cultural refs and also seem quite negative about U.K. culture. Which is fine, not everyone has to like it.

But I find it hard to take you seriously as a social commentator when you make sweeping statements about British literature that are so demonstrably false that they seem ill educated.

Perhaps this is why you have a different perspective on the whole Harry and Meghan thing- much more American.

I say this as someone who grew up in the states and still spells colour as Color.

Damn, it didn’t show the costume photo. Love it!

Here we go - the anti H&M crew are coming out with their forks & broomsticks

Not pitchforks (I presume that’s what you meant and not the culinary form?) and broomsticks - their ginger wigs and victim card

🧙🏿‍♀️ 🧙 🧹 🎃 woooooooooo!

I think if a translator buys 3 versions of the same book to further their skills and compare editions in the UK at least that could well be a business expense.

The original post just has a weird feel to it but I am happy to reserve judgment and I have not read the book so have comments to make on that other than he should not air the dirty laundry - not a very British thing to do.