Faber seizes Johnson-Schlee's 'revelatory book' on the history of heat

Faber has seized Hot House by Sam Johnson-Schlee, a "revelatory book" about the history of heat.

Senior commissioning editor Fiona Crosby acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Imogen Morrell at Greene & Heaton, and Faber will publish in November 2025.

"A comfortable home is a fundamental need," the synopsis says. "But with a changing climate, debates about net zero and the cost of living crisis, the ways we live now are being reshaped. Sam Johnson-Schlee’s revelatory book argues that through the history of heat, we can uncover the story of how society came to function as it does and how culture has been transformed by heat in the home."

Crosby commented: "Sam is an exciting new voice in non-fiction, with such a talent for finding delight and surprise in the most unexpected of places. His compelling book unveils hidden narratives that will enlighten our past and give clarity on our future."

Johnson-Schlee added: "I write because I want readers to find new ways of illuminating familiar aspects of their lives. I am spending all my time thinking about fireplaces, heaters, boilers and pipelines, and I hope this book will bring others to the enthralling aspects of something that we easily overlook. It is a privilege to be able to work with Fiona and Faber to publish this book."

Johnson-Schlee is a writer and senior lecturer at London South Bank University. He was awarded a British Academy Innovation Fellowship grant for his work on the cultural geography of domestic energy and is a 2023 BBC New Generation Thinker for his research on domestic heat.