Canongate nabs true story of 'secret painter' Tucker

Canongate has nabbed The Secret Painter, a "moving account" of the life of Eric Tucker as written by his nephew, Joe Tucker.

Editorial director Simon Thorogood acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Jane Finigan at Lutyens & Rubinstein. The Secret Painter will be published in hardback, e-book and audiobook in August 2024 with a paperback to follow.

"A true story about class and ambition, loneliness and community, success and failure; told with real heart and humour, it reminds us that talent does not follow society’s rigid rules, that the extraordinary can be found in the most unexpected places," the publisher’s synopsis says. "This book tells the story of the man behind the paintings and asks big questions such as: who is art for? Who gets to make art?"

Tucker commented: "My uncle — a former boxer, inveterate gambler, and petty thief — had long been a source of anecdotes to me, but it was only once his life was over that I got the full story. I’m delighted to be working with Canongate and to get the chance to share that story with a wider audience."

On acquiring, Thorogood said: "Joe’s book is a cracking story of a man both ordinary and extraordinary. It asks some important questions, but more than anything it is a celebration."