S&S to publish Sir Patrick Stewart's memoir

Simon & Schuster is to publish the memoir of renowned actor Sir Patrick Stewart.

Deputy publishing director Ian Marshall at S&S UK acquired world English rights for the yet-to-be-titled book in a deal brokered by Jennifer Joel of ICM. ​It will be published by S&S imprint Gallery Books in the US, and by S&S in Australia and India. The audio edition, read by Stewart, will be released by S&S Audio.

Publication date is not yet confirmed.

Marshall commented: “Sir Patrick Stewart is one of the world’s best-loved and most popular actors, thanks in particular to his roles as Jean-Luc Picard in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and Professor Charles Xavier in The X-Men series, but he is just as at home performing on stage for the RSC. A brilliant raconteur, as all chat shows hosts recognise, he is finally bringing his natural storytelling ability to this superb memoir, which has been right at the top of publishers’ wish lists for many years. We are utterly delighted he has chosen to work with Simon & Schuster.”

The memoir is expected to contain Stewart's reflections on his childhood in Yorkshire "marked by poverty and domestic violence", as well as his lifelong political advocacy and ongoing charity work.  

Stewart said: "The idea of writing a memoir based on my life and career has been in my mind for several years, but always the demands of work have pushed it into the background. Today there are no demands, nor is there a prediction when there might be. I am caught in the middle of shooting a new series, 'Star Trek: Picard', and I passionately want to see it through, but in the meantime...what? Well, I have a beautiful study in our house in Los Angeles, sunny and peaceful. I am 80 in a little over two weeks' time. I have just treated myself to a gorgeous office chair. And...I have the time. But most important, I am loving what I am doing [writing the book], even though I never thought I would or could."