Fourth Estate lands 'brave and exhilarating' memoir by poet Sinclair

Fourth Estate has landed a “brave and exhilarating” memoir by prize-winning poet Safiya Sinclair. 

Kishani Widyaratna, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in all volumes, to How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir from Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein, on behalf of Janet Silver and Erin Files at Aevitas Creative Management. North American rights went to Dawn Davis at Simon & Schuster after a 17-publisher auction, and further rights have sold to five territories. It will publish in hardback simultaneously in the UK and US on 3rd October 2023 and will be backed by a “major” campaign.

The synopsis says: “Sinclair grew up guarding herself against an ever-present threat. Her father, a volatile reggae musician and strict believer in a militant sect of Rastafari, railed against Babylon, the corrupting influence of the immoral Western world just beyond their gate. Rastas were ostracised in Jamaica and in this isolation Safiya’s father’s rule was absolute. To protect the purity of the women in their family he forbade almost everything: nowhere but home and school, no friends but this family and no future but this path.

“Her mother did what she could to bring joy to her children with books, poetry and education. But as Safiya’s imagination reached beyond its restrictive borders, her burgeoning independence brought greater clashes with her ever more radical father. Safiya realised that if she was to live at all, she had to find some way to leave home. But how?”

Widyaratna said: “Safiya Sinclair is one of the most vital writers I’ve ever had the honour to work with and it’s a great privilege that she has entrusted us with this remarkable memoir. The effect of reading How to Say Babylon is profound: it is exceptionally brave and heart-wrenching, and yet also illuminating and shot through with an otherworldly beauty. Safiya is a once in a generation talent and we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome her to the list."

Sinclair added: “I’m so excited to share How to Say Babylon with UK readers, many of whom have such a close historical and cultural relationship with Jamaica. My hope is that this memoir will give readers a view of Jamaica from the other side of the sun, with new insight into Rastafari history and Jamaican culture, beyond the tourist brochure. My experience working with Kishani Widyaratna these last few years has been incredible and transformational. I would follow her anywhere.”