Hamish Hamilton signs 'addictively readable' Hamid novel

Hamish Hamilton has signed The Last White Man, a new novel from twice Booker-shortlisted author Mohsin Hamid.

Simon Prosser, publishing director, bought British and Commonwealth rights from Jay Mandel at WME for publication in hardback on 11th August 2022. The book will be published in the US by Riverhead Books on 2nd August 2022.

The blurb states: “One morning, Anders wakes to find that his skin has turned dark, his reflection a stranger to him. At first he tells only Oona, an old friend, newly a lover. Soon, reports of similar occurrences surface across the land. Some see in the transformations the long-dreaded overturning of an established order, to be resisted to a bitter end. In many, like Anders’ father and Oona’s mother, a sense of profound loss wars with profound love. As the bond between Anders and Oona deepens, change takes on a different shading: a chance to see one another, face to face, anew.”

Prosser commented: “What a novel this is – and only Mohsin Hamid could have written it. Beautifully written, addictively readable and mesmerisingly imagined, it shines a revelatory light on our contemporary world and our social constructs. Timeless, humane and universal, it tells a deceptively simple story – of love and of transformation – which miraculously builds a bridge between our past and our future.”

Exit West (Hamish Hamilton), Mohsin Hamid’s most recent novel, was both a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. It was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2017. It is coming soon as a major Netflix film, produced by Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground productions and starring Riz Ahmed. Exit West is also currently a BBC2 "Between the Covers" pick, featuring in the episode on 24th November.