H&S pre-empts Tom Ireland's exploration of phages

Hodder & Stoughton will publish The Good Virus by science writer and Royal Society of Biology editor Tom Ireland, the untold story of phages, the "most under-appreciated yet most abundant" form of life on Earth. 

The synopsis reads: "The Good Virus takes readers around the world to uncover the story of the trillions of friendly viruses that surround us each day, and a century of struggle to get the world to see them. Phages (short for bacteriophages) were once lauded as the world’s first genuine antibiotic, discovered before penicillin, but were abandoned by Western science for decades. However, they are now back in the spotlight as they could help us fight one of the world’s most pressing problems: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Phages can not only cure us of deadly diseases; they are the foundation to many of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of our time and scientists are only just beginning to understand the pivotal role they play in our environment and the evolution of life on Earth." 

Ireland will reveal a multitude of stories about the life form, take the reader into Stalin’s secret phage labs in Georgia, and explain why the "father of phages", Félix d’Hérelle, never won a Nobel Prize despite being nominated almost 30 times. The book will also introduce readers to today’s "phage explorers", who are searching the planet, from volcanoes to sewage pipes, to discover new phages.

Anna Baty, senior commissioning editor, pre-empted world all languages rights from Peter Tallack at The Science Factory. The title will be published in hardback, trade paperback, audio and e-book in spring 2023.

Baty said: "The story of phages takes us all over the world to meet a cast of fascinating and eccentric characters. This is science writing at its best. Tom has a real gift for not only demystifying the science, but he tells this incredible story with great wit and warmth. Phages offer a completely different perspective on viruses and it’s the perfect time to popularise this area of science and for readers to ‘rediscover’ the wonder of forgotten phages."

Ireland commented: "Phages are amazing and deeply mysterious life-forms that have generated endless personal dramas as well as scientific breakthroughs in the 100 years since their discovery – but surprisingly, few people have even heard of them. I’m delighted to be able to tell these amazing stories with Hodder & Stoughton, just as a new wave of phage-based medicines and biotechnologies are appearing on the horizon."