Century triumphs in 14-way auction for memoirs of Anti-Social Behaviour Officer

Century has snapped up the "wickedly-funny and heartbreaking" memoirs of an Anti-Social Behaviour Officer following a major 14-publisher auction.

Zennor Compton, senior editor at Century, acquired world rights, all languages to Anti-Social from Max Edwards at Apple Tree Literary. Film and TV rights are being handled by Yasmin McDonald at United Agents of behalf of Apple Tree Literary.

Written by a council worker with more than ten years experience of helping people with anti-social behaviour, Edwards says the timely book "will change our perspective on the underbelly of Britain’s cities."

"Anti-Social tells the story of the life of a council worker whose job is to keep his community happy," reads the synopsis. "That is hard enough at the best of times but government cuts mean hospitals, social services and police are all at breaking point and complete chaos ensues. This is an urgent but, most of all, hysterically funny diary of a life spent working with the people society wants to forget. From a brilliant new talent in comedic writing, this book will make you laugh, cry and boil with rage within a single sentence."

The Penguin Random House imprint will publish Anti-Social, in the author's name, on 25th June in hardback and eBook, with a simultaneous audiobook publication from Penguin Random House Audio.  The author is currently employed as an Anti-Social Behaviour Officer and for now, needs to remain anonymous.

The author said: "After more than a decade spent helping people suffering from anti-social behaviour, it felt like the right time to write this book. Right because the problems people face are getting worse, because the resources to help are getting more scare and because I’d reached my own personal crisis point. I want to show a part of society most people won’t have seen before and a job most people wouldn’t know exists. And to do so in a way that proves there’s humour in even the darkest of circumstances. I think the stories of the people I’ve tried to help deserve to be read and I’m incredibly honoured that Century felt the same way."

Compton, said: "It is rare when a book comes across a publisher’s desk that is full of this much potential, not just in its intrinsic quality, but in its cultural and commercial power. Anti-Social is a darkly hilarious, empathetic and important book. The author has the rare ability to break your heart and make you snort with laughter within a single sentence. This book is also a painful reminder of the devastating human cost of government and council cuts to our most vital services. Anti-Social feels painfully timely and I know that it will ignite conversations up and down the country. I couldn’t be more proud and excited to publish next year."

Edwards, agent and founder of Apple Tree Literary, added: "When I first read Anti-Social I snorted up my tea I was laughing so hard. But this is more than another funny book about an odd profession – it is one that will change our perspective on the underbelly of Britain’s cities. Filled with stories that are by turns hilarious, horrific and intensely human, the author’s sense of decency, humour and brilliant writing leads us through the wilderness of the British housing estate, to see the true impact of the failures of austerity and those on the frontlines fighting so hard to make lives better."