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Mardle lands memoir from 'Queen of Soho' Hodge
Mardle Books has landed The Boy Who Sat By The Window, the "gripping" memoir from the "Queen of Soho" David Hodge.
Publisher Jo Sollis acquired world all language rights from David Parrish at the Indigo Literary Agency. The memoir will be published in hardback, e-book and audio on 8th September 2022.
The memoir follows Hodge from his childhood in Walsall to becoming the "Queen of Soho" who "would rule London’s drag scene in its most dazzling era". Amid his time with celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Grace Jones and Boy George, Hodge worked at the London Lighthouse which cared for people living with HIV and AIDS. "The contrast was stark between the life of David Hodge during the day and the life of The Very Miss Dusty O after dark," the publisher wrote.
It has a foreword by Boy George and Jeanette Winterson has called the memoir "insightful, lonely, laugh out loud funny".
Hodge commented: "My story is one of laughter and hedonism, dressing up and showing off. I played Queen in a parallel universe of glamour, rhinestones and couture outfits. It’s also one of alienation and loneliness and of always being the odd one out. I lived through AIDS, Princess Diana and Thatcher but came out singing and dancing my way through Soho and the West End. I survived a murder attempt and bankruptcy. I am still here. Now I paint my feelings and not my face and once again feel as if my journey is beginning. This is my truth. Grubby at times but mine to tell. Here it is. Uncensored."
"What a fantastic life to read about – let alone live it and tell the tale," said Sollis. "We are so happy to be working with David on bringing the full story of his life (so far!) to the world."
Parrish commented: "David’s love of music, make-up and Hi Glam drag took him around the world as The Very Miss Dusty O. Now he is David once again, and his artistry shows the new generations that another life is possible, when the glamour fades. The Boy Who Sat By The Window – how one skinny, little ginger kid became The Queen of Soho for 20 years or more and lived to tell the tale… just!"
