Dialogue wins five-way auction for Lisa Smith's 'canonical London' debut novel

Dialogue Books has signed Lisa Smith’s "canonical state-of-the-nation" debut novel, Jamaica Road, in a five-way auction.

Managing director Sharmaine Lovegrove acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Nicola Chang at David Higham Associates. US rights were signed by Maris Dyer at Knopf, Penguin Random House US from Stephanie Delman at Trellis Literary Management. 

"I fell in love with Jamaica Road and its unforgettable protagonists Daphne and Connie immediately," said Chang. "Lisa Smith writes with such tenderness, humanity and emotional depth."

Lovegrove describes Jamaica Road "as the third in the great trilogy of London novels which includes White Teeth by Zadie Smith and Brick Lane by Monica Ali". She commented: "The scope of the novel that encompasses politics, culture and a beautiful love story over a decade hits the beats of an important and canonical London novel that celebrates the city, our people, the communities and the reliance in the face of political strife. Lisa is a huge talent, and this book is exhilarating."

Jamaica Road is a "deftly plotted and emotionally expansive" novel that follows two best friends from the British-Jamaican community as they navigate 1980s London. Over a decade, they fall for each other, break each other’s hearts and find their way back to the other, until an act of violence threatens to tear them apart permanently.

Smith commented: "From the outset Sharmaine Lovegrove and Maris Dyer understood the story I wanted to tell and I was moved by their passion and ambition for my debut novel. I’m delighted that Jamaica Road has found a home at Dialogue Books and Knopf, I’m so excited to be working with them to bring Daphne and Connie into the world."