Faber signs Jan Morris' 'first ever' diaries

Faber has signed ex-soldier and journalist Jan Morris’ first ever book of diaries, In My Mind’s Eye, for hardback publication in September 2018.

Morris, who celebrated her 90th birthday last year and was last night awarded the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing, is the author of numerous books including Venice, Conundrum, and Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere (all Faber).

A former soldier, who served in the Second World War, her achievements as a journalist, when still known as James Morris, include scooping the world in reporting the conquest of Everest by Hillary and Tensing in time for the Queen's Coronation in 1953, covering the Eichman Trial in 1961, and writing on American Cities for Rolling Stone in the 1970s.

Editorial director Angus Cargill, who bought UK & Commonwealth rights from Caroline Dawnay and Sophie Scard at United Agents, described the book as "a perfect treat".

"From cars to cats, travel to home, music to writing, Brexit to America, marmalade to lunch, kindness to ageing, it is a book marked by her unique turn of phrase and characteristically intimate voice, at once funny, perceptive, wise, touching, wicked, scabrous, and kind", he said.

Scard added: "Jan Morris is a writer, and a person, like no other. To read her is a privilege and a joy, never more so than in these wise, funny reflections".

Faber will publish in September 2018 and WW Norton will publish in America in Spring 2019.