Glenconner strikes deal for another memoir with Hodder & Stoughton

Princess Margaret’s former lady-in-waiting Anne Glenconner has struck a deal for another memoir with Hodder & Stoughton to follow her bestseller Lady in Waiting. 

Rowena Webb, publisher, and Tom Perrin, editorial consultant, bought world rights to Whatever Next? Lessons from an Unexpected Life from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown. It will publish on 17th November backed by an “unmissable” publicity and marketing campaign, including national media interviews and appearances at a number of literary festivals and independent bookshops. 

Lady in Waiting, first published in 2019, was a surprise breakout hit, garnering rave reviews following a series of memorable media interviews, most notably her appearance on “The Graham Norton Show” which went viral. The hardback sold 182,246 copies according to Nielsen BookScan in the UK. She has since published two novels and in total she has sold 291,000 print books for £3.5m.  

In Whatever Next? Glenconner brings her "bracing honesty, characteristic wit and courage" to reflect on and reveal more about her unexpected life. Now 90 years old, and happier than she’s ever been, she has lived a life of stark contrasts – from growing up in the splendour of Holkham Hall to living in a tent in the jungle of Mustique, from travelling the world as Princess Margaret’s lady in waiting to coping with her wildly volatile husband Lord Glenconner. She has also survived the tragic loss of two of her sons, and nursed a third son back from a coma. 

The publisher said: "The different roles she’s played through her life have each taught her invaluable lessons. As a daughter, she began to learn resilience, which was then put to the test as a wife. As a hostess, she acquired great practical skills in housekeeping and party organising. As a lady in waiting, she became expert in diplomacy and etiquette. As a mother, she learned the toughest lessons of all, and through them the value of friendship, family, laughter and adventure to get you through the worst moments in life, as well as celebrating the best of them." 

Webb said: “It’s a joy to be working with Anne again on this wonderful new book. Whatever Next? is a richly entertaining read with lots of new insight into her long and astonishing life – and a must-have for her many thousands of admirers new and old around the world.” 

Glenconner added: “Writing Lady in Waiting was both enormous fun and at times incredibly painful. Its amazing success has taught me that I’ll never stop learning, even in my 90th year. I’ve loved reflecting on life old and new in Whatever Next? – and hope it will entertain, possibly even inspire others to embrace every new adventure.”