Chevalier joins Hogarth Shakespeare line-up

Tracy Chevalier is the latest author to write a novel inspired by a Shakespeare play as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series.

Chevalier, who will retell Othello, is the sixth author to join the series, which presents retellings of Shakespeare for contemporary readers, alongside writers including Margaret Atwood, Howard Jacobson and Jo Nesbo.

She said: “Othello is essentially about being an outsider and the price you pay for that difference. Most of the protagonists in my novels are outsiders, geographically or mentally, so writing Othello’s story was an irresistible opportunity.”

Clara Farmer, publishing director at Chatto & Windus/Hogarth, acquired world rights in all languages from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown.

She said: “Tracy Chevalier’s ability to conjure whole worlds in her work has always been exciting, and I look forward to discovering the world she creates for her Othello.”

Atwood has chosen The Tempest, Jacobson The Merchant of Venice, Nesbo Macbeth, Anne Tyler The Taming of the Shrew and Jeanette Winterson The Winter’s Tale.

Hogarth has also sold Italian rights in all six titles to ISBN/Il Saggiatore and Danish rights to Modtryk, joining Hogarth UK and US, Knopf Canada, Knaus Verlag in Germany and Lumen in Spain.

The series will launch to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016.

Chevalier’s most recent novel is 2013’s The Last Runaway (HarperCollins).