S&S seizes Freethy’s ‘original’ historical novel

Simon & Schuster has snapped up The Porcelain Maker, a story of love, betrayal and art set between 1920s Berlin and the US in the 1980s, by Sarah Freethy. 

The novel has been pre-empted in three countries, in 24-hour major deals. To date rights have been sold in seven territories within the past week including: Hungary (IPC Könyvek KFT), Israel (Tchelet), Italy (La Nave Di Teseo), Portugal (tba), Spain (Editorial Roca), The Netherlands (HarperCollins), US (St Martin’s Press). It will publish in the UK  in hardback, e-book and audio in autumn 2023.

The deal is the third project signed up by publishing director Clare Hey, with The Writers Room, the team behind Eagle Eye Drama. It follows Hotel Portofino, which is currently screening on Britbox and coming to ITV later this year, and Vamps: Fresh Blood, which sold in 16 territories at London Book Fair 2022.

The Porcelain Maker is inspired by the true story of the white Allach porcelain pieces Hitler collected, the camps where they were made and the SS guards who were given them.

“It’s 1929 and two lovers are caught at the crossroads of history as Nazi Germany is about to unleash its darkest forces – Max, a Jewish architect, and Bettina, a beautiful and celebrated German female artist,” the synopsis reads. “Their love sparks brightly but it cannot last. Later, at the turn of the 21st century, Bettina’s daughter Clara goes on a journey to trace her roots and discover the identity of her father, a man she has never known.

“As Clara pieces together the puzzle of her real origins, we follow the story of Max and Bettina as Clara weaves together the fabric of her past and discovers the secret that has always been kept from her.”

Hey said: “By telling history through the lens of the art of the 20th century, Sarah Freethy has created an original and compelling story. I have been inspired by the response to this novel and am looking forward to working with editors around the globe to get this story to readers everywhere.”