Puffin signs ‘essential’ children's introduction to the British Empire by Sanghera

Puffin has snapped up journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera’s “essential" introduction to the British Empire, aimed at readers aged nine and above.

Senior commissioning editor Emily Lunn, now at Hachette, and commissioning editor Phoebe Jascourt acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Stolen History from Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency, for publication on 8th June 2023.

It will be illustrated in black and white by Jen Khatun, a children’s book illustrator of Bangladeshi/Indian heritage who has published work with Macmillan Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Walker Books and others.

The title follows Sanghera’s Empireland (Viking), which won the British Book Awards’ Book of the Year for Non-fiction 2022.

Puffin says Stolen History “answers all the important questions that children need to know about Britain’s imperial history”. Its synopsis continues: “Stolen History explores how Britain’s empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth and how it still affects our lives in many ways today—from the words we use to the food we eat and the sports we play, right down to our fixation with a good cup of tea.”

Jascourt said: “Sathnam has an incredible gift for writing about British Empire in a way that is illuminating, often heart-breaking and thoroughly engaging. His words, combined with Jen’s illustrations, will arm children with a deeper understanding of how the British Empire shaped modern Britain as well as offer advice to young readers about how they can use this knowledge to fight for a kinder, more inclusive world.

“It’s so important for children to learn about this key part of history and I feel very proud to be publishing this book with such a talented author and illustrator.”

Sanghera said: “I’ve resisted suggestions that I write a kids’ book on empire on the grounds that I didn’t want to sanitise the history. But I think I’ve found a tone that allows me to be both honest and entertaining. I’m really excited that kids might soon have access to knowledge about the British Empire that I only stumbled across at the age of 45. Becoming at ease with this history is essential to Britain becoming a saner country.”