John Murray signs Noah’s ‘illustrated modern fable’

John Murray Press has signed stand-up comedian and former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s Into the Uncut Grass.

Nick Davies, managing director, and Georgina Laycock, non-fiction publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding South Africa from Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein. They will publish Into the Uncut Grass in a £20 fully illustrated hardback edition and as an audiobook and e-book on 2nd November.

The publisher says: “Trevor’s new book is a gorgeously illustrated and moving modern fable for readers of all ages about forgiveness, acceptance and the secret to solidarity. Evocative of allegories and fables from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to The Little Prince to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Ebury), the book will deliver the powerful wit and sneaky wisdom that Trevor is known for."

Its description reads: “Into the Uncut Grass is an illustrated fable about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of solidarity, connection and finding peace with the people we love.

"Beautifully illustrated by Christopher Myers, this story is born out of Trevor’s own childhood – where he came of age on fault lines of race, language, culture and class but found ways to love, connect to and resolve conflicts with people of all kinds."

John Murray Press published Noah’s Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood in 2016 and it went on to sell over 680,000 copies across all editions according to the publisher. Winner of the James Thurber Award, it is currently being adapted for the big screen, with Lupita Nyong’o attached to play the author’s mother, Patricia.

Noah said: “Few memories in my life bring me more joy than the first few books I read as a child. Either with my mom or reading alone, those simple stories shaped so much of how I saw the world. I hope this story can bring a little bit of that same joy to readers of all ages."

Davies and Laycock said: “Alongside his many thousands of fans, we have been impatiently awaiting Trevor Noah’s next project. We’re delighted to say that Into the Uncut Grass is well worth the wait: it’s as clever, moving and unexpected as Trevor himself. We think this book could reach a whole new readership and inspire new generations.”