S&S bags Backman's English-language work in four-book deal

Simon & Schuster UK has acquired four novels from Fredrik Backman, in a move that transfers all of the author's English-language work to the publisher.

S&S will publish The Winners, the "emotional and masterful" final instalment in the Beartown trilogy, globally in September 2022. This will be followed by three standalone novels.

Ian Chapman, c.e.o. and publisher of S&S UK, and Suzanne Baboneau, m.d. of the adult publishing division, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Tor Jonasson at the Salomonsson Agency. Peter Borland, editor-in-chief at S&S’ Atria imprint, is Backman’s long-time US publisher.

Backman is the author of nine books including A Man Called Ove (Sceptre). His most recent novel, Anxious People (Penguin), debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list and remained on the hardcover bestseller list for more than six months.

Chapman said: "We have long been huge fans of Fredrik Backman, avid and enthusiastic readers of his work and hugely admiring of his ever-increasing worldwide success. We love the piquancy of his writing, his superb characterisation and his singular take on the world in which we live. For us to have the opportunity of publishing Fredrik is enormously exciting and to do so with our wonderful Atria colleagues in the US gives us even greater pleasure."
 
Borland added: "Since the publication of A Man Called Ove in 2014, readers all around the world have embraced Fredrik Backman’s heartfelt, wise and witty brand of storytelling. All of us at Atria are eager to work closely with the superb team at S&S UK, who share our deep commitment to this immensely talented author."