Canongate nabs a new account of the British Museum by Dominic Selwood

Canongate has snapped up a new account of the British Museum by writer, historian and barrister Dominic Selwood.

Editorial director Simon Thorogood bought UK and Commonwealth rights to The British Museum: A History from Matthew Hamilton at the Hamilton Agency, and Canongate will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook in October 2027 – with a paperback to follow.

"Spanning three centuries, the book is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes biography of the iconic institution: it tells the stories of the extraordinary people, discoveries, encounters and objects behind the UK’s most visited tourist attraction," the synopsis says. "In what will be a first, the museum has offered Dr Dominic Selwood unrestricted access to all papers and archives from its foundation to the present, along with permission to interview trustees, management and curatorial staff. Without shying away from controversial topics, this book aims to contribute to the debate by exploring the whole spectrum of the British Museum’s history and work and putting discussions into context."

The British Museum’s interim director, Sir Mark Jones, said: "We are delighted that Dr Dominic Selwood, an independent scholar and historian, is working through our archives to unearth further details about the museum’s important and vibrant history. The museum has told the world’s stories for three centuries, and we look forward to a book that seeks to tell ours."

Selwood added: "I am excited to be working with Simon and the Canongate team on this history of the British Museum, drawing on its archives to tell the stories of the extraordinary people, events and objects that have shaped it for almost three centuries. The museum is so much more than its galleries, and – in an age of technology that is rapidly eroding the edges of what is real – its collections and accumulated knowledge are, more than ever, vital to understanding the past."