Mudlark has an appetite for Grace Dent

Food and drink columnist Grace Dent’s memoir Hungry has gone to HarperCollins’ new non-fiction imprint, Mudlark, after a "heated" 15-way auction.

The "nostalgic food memoir, and the real story of the British belly" will trace Dent’s journey from 1970s Carlisle to her role as "one of the most recognisable, unique voices on the British food scene". It covers her feelings about "pretentious restaurants, Michelin stars and eating offal" and how she coped with her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Dent, who has written YA titles, recently joined the Guardian as its food and drink critic, after seven years in the same role at the Evening Standard. She said: "I’ve been ruminating over Hungry for some time, so finding such a prestigious home for it is massively exciting."

Harper NonFiction editorial director Katya Shipster acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown.