New Simon Garfield book to Canongate

Canongate has acquired its fourth book by Simon Garfield, titled In Miniature, describing it as a "big book of small things".

Publisher Jenny Todd acquired world rights, including audio, from Rosemary Scoular at United Agents. The book will be edited by the newly joined editorial director Simon Thorogood and will be published in October 2018.

Canongate described In Miniature as a "dazzling exploration of miniatures, and the history, psychology and fanaticism attached to working and playing in tiny worlds of our own making. From minibars to military strategizing of real and imaginary wars, the flea circus, fertility figures and many very small things besides, Garfield conducts a highly inventive and entertaining investigation into one of the most ancient and eccentric of human desires with his typical curiosity and panache".

Thorogood said: "A new book by Simon Garfield is always a real treat – and a significant publishing event. In Miniature will be a big book of small things and I know will delight Simon’s many fans."

Garfield said: "It’s a small subject writ large, and and a quiet subject made potent. I’m glowing with excitement about it."

Garfield is the author of 17 books of non-fiction including Timekeepers (Canongate), To the Letter (Canongate) and Just My Type (Profile). He has been described by the Observer as "a one-man Blue Peter team for intelligent adults, a great British explainer" and by the Sunday Times as "an exuberant truffle-hound of the recondite and delightful factoid".