Lebowitz essay collection to Virago

Virago will publish a collection of essays from "New York legend" Fran Lebowitz later this year.  

Lebowitz is described as as "one of America’s most insightful social commentators, a sought-after public speaker, a style icon, wit and flaneur" by the publisher.  She made her name as a columnist at Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine before publishing two essay collections; Metropolitan Life (Dutton, 1978) and Social Studies (Random House, 1981). 

The synopsis for her latest collection reads: "Lebowitz turns her trademark caustic wit to everything from children (‘rarely in the position to lend one a truly interesting sum of money’), to novelty ice cubes (‘flowers belong in one’s lapel, not in one’s bourbon’) and landlords (‘it is the solemn duty of every landlord to maintain an adequate supply of roaches’). And her attitude to work is the perfect antidote to our exhausting culture of self-betterment (‘3.40 p.m. I consider getting out of bed. I reject the notion as being unduly vigorous. I read and smoke a bit more’)."

Editorial director Donna Coonan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Joanna Lee at Curtis Brown on behalf of Esther Newberg at ICM Partners. Italian rights have been sold to Bompiani, Dutch rights sold at auction to Podium and Polish rights sold at auction to Znak.

 Lebowitz is scheduled to tour in the UK in summer 2022 with Fane Productions.

Photo credit: Brigitte Lacombe