Harvill Secker acquires ‘highly personal’ dive into novel-writing by Murakami

Harvill Secker is publishing a “charmingly idiosyncratic look at writing” by Haruki Murakami.

Liz Foley, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to Novelist as a Vocation from Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown on behalf of Amanda Urban at ICM Partners. It will be published on 8th November 2022.

The book sees Murakami share with readers "what he thinks about being a novelist; his thoughts on the role of the novel in our society; his own origins as a writer; and his musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire other writers, artists, and musicians”. The publisher said it offers a “unique look into the mind of a master storyteller”. 

Its synopsis continues: “Readers who have long wondered where the mysterious novelist gets his ideas and what inspires his strangely surreal worlds will be fascinated by this highly personal look at the craft of writing.”

Foley said: “It’s a great privilege to have this personal and insightful perspective on the art and craft of writing from such a great literary master.”