Emma Thompson and Greg Wise's charity Christmas essays to Quercus

Quercus has signed a charity book of essays about Christmas collated by actor Emma Thompson and her husband Greg Wise.

Non-fiction publisher Katy Follain acquired world rights for Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases past – and hopes for future ones from Caroline Wood at Felicity Bryan Associates. Andy Serkis, Caitlin Moran, Olivia Colman and Emily Watson are among the contributors talking about what Christmas means to them, along with homeless people, charity workers and refugees. Thompson and Wise will also write one each and an introduction to the book.

All proceeds will go to Crisis and The Refugee Council. The book will be published on 31st October 2019, just before Thompson’s film “Last Christmas” hits cinemas. Directed by Paul Feig and written by the couple over seven years, the movie features Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. The soundtrack consists of George Michael favourites, as well as music he never released. The singer collaborated on the concept for the movie prior to his death in 2016.

Follain said: “As soon as Greg, whose book Not That Kind of Love I published last year, told me about the ‘Last Christmas’ movie, I knew there was an opportunity there for a publication that would reflect on its important messages. Emma and Greg are both passionate advocates of human rights and, with a little help from their friends, we can’t wait to support their campaign for a better future for socially deprived groups of people.”

Thompson and Wise said: “We are witnessing a rise in homelessness in our country, as well as in the demonization of migrants and refugees. There is a suspicion and fear of ‘the other’ creeping into our nation’s dialogue, which has become front-and-centre during Brexit. Our hope is that the movie  will strike a chord with everyone who watches it, and that the book will remind people of the importance of values such as kindness and generosity.”