Daunt Books pre-empts journalist Kinsella's debut

Daunt Books Publishing has pre-empted the first book by journalist and writer Ana Kinsella.

Editor Sophie Missing acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Look Here: The Radical Pleasures of Observing the City from Seren Adams at United Agents, for release in 2022.

Look Here will expand on Kinsella’s popular newsletter about style, strangers and the city, The London Review of Looks. The synopsis explains: “Exploring the joy to be found in small everyday interactions and chance observations, Look Here will chart an emotional map of a city, navigating ideas of anonymity and identity, freedom and space (and who has access to these things), and community, while reflecting on whether the endless carousel of clothing we see on strangers holds some deeper meaning.”

Missing said: “I’ve long been a fan of Ana’s writing and her finely honed, always empathetic eye for a chance encounter or detail. The London Review of Looks from lockdown were a balm but they also made me think more closely about life in the city. Look Here will be a fresh, stylish and timely journey through London (imagine Flaneuse meets Women in Clothes meets Londoners), full of unexpected observation and insight. I could not be more delighted to be publishing it, and we’re so excited that Ana is joining the Daunt list.”

Kinsella, an Irish writer living in London who has written for the Guardian, Dazed and others, said: “It took cities such as London shutting down earlier this year to make me realise what I loved most about living in them: the endless opportunities for small, unexpected pleasures. While politicians and analysts debate about the economic value of the city in today’s world, I hope to make space for the emotional value it holds for us. I’m so happy to be able to do that with Sophie, whose work I greatly admire, and at Daunt.”