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McEwan brother memoir to Blake

06.06.08 Jo Young

World rights in the life story of Dave Sharp, the "lost" brother of novelist Ian McEwan, have been bought by John Blake for an undisclosed sum. Complete Surrender, which is due for release on 7th July, details Sharp’s early life and his learning that he was adopted at the age of 14. It also recounts his discovery in 2002 after meeting his birth family that his brother was McEwan.

John Blake negotiated the deal with Sharp's agent Sheila Ableman, having approached Sharp after reading his story in the press. The title is taken from an advert placed in the Reading Mercury in 1942, which read: "Wanted: Home for Baby Boy, Age 1 Month; Complete Surrender". The book will include a foreword by McEwan.

"John saw a piece about Dave Sharp's story a while ago and approached him about the possibility of doing his book. They were in talks about it for over a year," said Michelle Signore, editor-in-chief at the publishing firm, which is in negotiations with two parties interested in acquiring serial rights.

Ableman said that she felt the book would be given a "good home" with John Blake. She added: "It is an amazing story, in that Ian and Dave are complete, not half, brothers, and it adds a lot to the nature/nurture debate."

Rights deal Ian McEwan John Blake Home Jo Young Dave Sharp

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