Hillary Clinton's 'most personal memoir yet' from S&S

Simon & Schuster UK has said that Hillary Clinton's forthcoming book, first acquired as a collection of essays, will in fact constitute her "most personal memoir yet".

S&S UK has UK and Commonwealth rights to What Happened, which will be published on 12th September, simultaneously with S&S in the US. A previous memoir, Hard Choices, was published by S&S in 2014.

The new book will tell the story of the "unprecendented and historic" 2016 presidential election and its aftermath, and will touch on Russia’s interference and James Comey’s involvement in Clinton's election defeat, as well as other factors including sexism and misogyny. The title is "both a deeply intimate account and a cautionary tale for the nation", and will see Clinton reveal what she was thinking and feeling during "one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history", according to the publisher.

The book sees Clinton lay out how the 2016 election was marked by an "unprecedented assault" on democracy by a foreign adversary and highlight "just how dangerous the forces were that shaped the outcome". Clinton will also take the reader inside the "intense" personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election "marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules".

Earlier this year, The Bookseller reported that Clinton promised that the book would go “a lot further – as far as I can” in discussing her run for the presidency and its aftermath.

Speaking in conversation with author Cheryl Strayed at BookExpo America, Clinton said: “In 2008, it was not fun losing, but I didn’t worry about our country. I am really worried. We are living in such an abnormal time, with dishonesty, fabrication, and ways of behaving about the challenges we face. It could cause lasting damage to our institutions. I will talk about what is totally unprecedented in American history. You can’t be all right with a foreign adversary trying to influence our elections… I try to arm citizens to be active, to speak up.

“I’m deeply troubled: all of a sudden attitudes and feelings are bursting through the veneer of civilization… I saw in the election a deliberate effort to blow the top off… It’s incredibly dangerous…It doesn’t take much to rip off the politeness and accommodation that keep diverse people living and working together. We saw it in Bosnia, Rwanda, political leaders for power or greed or ideology really lighting those flames. There is always kindling there.”

The publisher has said that it is "to be confirmed" whether Clinton will be coming over to the UK for publication. 

Simon & Schuster is also publishing a picture book version of Clinton's 1996 non-fiction title It Takes A Village this autumn.