'Major' new work from William Keegan to Biteback

Biteback Publishing is to release a "major" new work by veteran journalist William Keegan.

Michael Smith, editor-at-large of Biteback, acquired world rights to a new study of Britain’s economy by The Observer’s senior economics commentator William Keegan.

Nine Crises: Fifty Years of Covering the British Economy, from Devaluation to Brexit combines the author’s memories of Chancellors of the Exchequer, Governors of the Bank of England, influential economists and Fleet Street legends with vignettes on nine major economic crises, to tell the story of how the British economy seems to "lurch from one disaster to another but somehow survives, at least until now", the publisher said.

In a book peppered with anecdotes and memories from the author’s political connections, Keegan draws on his own experience to explore, among others – the 1967 devaluation, the three-day week, Black Wednesday and the 2008 global financial crisis – and explains why the prospect of Brexit is potentially the biggest crisis he has witnessed in 50 years.

Smith said: "Everyone at Biteback is thrilled to be publishing William’s new book. William is such a huge name in economic and political journalism and this promises to be an important and timely book, as the spectre of Brexit poses an existential threat to the British economy in the years to come."

Nine Crises will be published in April 2018.