Faber bags 'major' Nietzsche biography after seven-way auction

Faber & Faber is to publish a "major" biography of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche by Sue Prideaux, after winning the title in a seven-way auction.

Mitzi Angel, publisher of Faber, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to I am Dynamite! A Life of Nietzsche from Felicity Bryan at Felicity Bryan Associates.

Angel said: "We are thrilled to be publishing Sue Prideaux’s vibrant and important book. Who hasn't heard of 'God is dead' or 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger'? The time is right for a new take on this extraordinary man's life, whose importance as a thinker rivals that of Freud or Marx. We are lucky to have that rare thing on our hands: fluent, transparent writing which also does justice to the complexity of the subject-matter. Nietzsche’s ideas – as well as his life – sing on the page."

Prideaux said: "I am utterly delighted to be joining such a distinguished publishing house as Faber and I much look forward to working with Mitzi and her team. I was excited by their enthusiasm for the book and their very creative ideas for marketing it."

Bryan said: "When I read Sue Prideaux’s sparkling chapters I knew that I had on my hands a manuscript which would thrill and engage people internationally. I have worked with Mitzi over many years and think that Faber is the ideal publisher for Sue’s book. Andrew Nurnberg Associates are excited and have already made one translation sale and will take it to Frankfurt. US Rights are handled by George Lucas at Inkwell Management."

Faber & Faber will publish I am Dynamite! as a lead non-fiction title in Autumn 2018.

Prideaux’s first biography, Edvard Munch: Behind the Scream (Yale University Press), won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Strindberg: A Life (Yale University Press) was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and won the Duff Cooper Prize.