Greer's Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction pre-empted by L,B within 24 hours

Little, Brown has pre-empted Andrew Sean Greer's 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Less within 24 hours.

Less won Greer the Pulitzer Prize for fiction on 16th April, when the judges described the satire "generous ... musical in its prose and expansive in its structure and range, about growing older and the essential nature of love".

A novel "about missteps, misunderstanding and mistakes", it starts with a 49-year-old writer who learns that his former boyfriend is about to get married. To avoid the wedding and heartbreak, he decides to embark on a trip around the world, accepting invitations to a series of half-baked lectures and literary events. 

Senior commissioning editor Ailah Ahmed secured UK and Commonwealth rights from Cullen Stanley of Cullen Stanley International on behalf of Lynn Nesbit. Lee Boudreaux Books at Little, Brown US holds North American rights.

The book will be published on Little, Brown's Abacus imprint. The e-book is now available, while a B-format paperback edition will be on sale from 22nd May.

Greer said: "What a joy to be able to bring Arthur Less, who is afraid of any travel, across the Atlantic! And please, while he’s there, find him a better fitting suit. So happy to be with Little Brown."