HarperNonFiction scoops Murray's War on the West

HarperNonFiction has scooped a new book from author and journalist Douglas Murray.

Oli Malcolm, executive publisher, acquired world all language rights to The War on the West from Matthew Hamilton at the Hamilton Agency along with Broadside Books executive editor Eric Nelson, who is overseeing publication at HarperCollins in the US. It will be published on 28th April 2022.

The publisher's synopsis reads: "If the history of humankind is a history of slavery, conquest, prejudice, genocide, and exploitation, why are only Western nations taking the blame for it? It’s become perfectly acceptable to celebrate the contributions of non-Western cultures, but discussing their flaws and crimes is called hate speech. What’s more it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating their contributions is also called hate speech. Some of this is a much-needed reckoning, a necessary step in moving forward together. However, some of it is part of a larger international attack on reason, democracy, science, progress, and the citizens of the West by dishonest scholars, hatemongers, hostile nations, and human rights abusers hoping to distract from their ongoing villainy."

It added: "Murray shows how many well-meaning people have been lured into protests and polarisation by such lies and hypocrisy. A blistering and important polemic, the book carefully and methodically shows how far political discourse has strayed in Europe and America from its stated goals: justice and equality. Propelled by an incisive deconstruction of inconsistent arguments and activism, towards a clarion call for the defence of enlightenment values, The War on the West will be one of the most widely discussed books of 2022, cementing Murray as one of the world’s foremost political writers."

Murray said: “This book has been many years in the making and is my biggest book to date. In it I aim not just to dissect one of the great challenges of our age, but to show a way out from it too. I try to insert perspective where there is none. And to turn resentment into gratitude. I am thrilled to have joined HarperCollins who have been such formidable champions of my work.”

Malcolm added: "The War on the West is an extraordinary, urgent and necessary publication. HarperNonFiction is committed to making this book another major bestseller for Douglas, who continues to challenge perceived wisdom with incomparable clarity and rigour.”

Nelson commented: “We’re excited to help a brilliant author expand his American audience with his best book yet."