Trapeze to publish memoir of Prince's first wife

Trapeze is publishing the "intimate" memoir of Prince's first wife, Mayte Garcia.

Anna Valentine, publisher for Orion imprint Trapeze, has bought UK and Commonwealth rights direct from Hachette US in The Most Beautiful, to be published in hardback and e-book in April 2017: around the one-year anniversary of Prince’s death.

In The Most Beautiful, Garcia will share the story of her life and her relationship with Prince: from their meeting backstage at a concert, and the long-distance romance that followed, to their "fairy-tale" wedding, and artistic partnership, to the loss of their children that, says Trapeze, "ultimately dissolved their romantic relationship for good".

The book is promised to provide a "nuanced portrait" of Prince, through Garcia's telling of the life they shared during "some of the most pivotal" moments of his personal and professional life. It draws from never-before-seen letters, photos and memorabilia.

The book's title is inspired by Prince’s 1995 hit song "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", which Prince wrote to celebrate their love story.

Garcia said: "For many years, people have encouraged me to share my story. Prince was loved the world over but few knew him intimately. And ours was a rare, almost otherworldly connection. I want to share our love story, and with it the highs and lows—always coming from a loving place, as this man is still part of my family and always will be."

Valentine said: "Few can say they truly knew Prince. As mysterious as his music, Prince was an enigmatic icon. But to Mayte Garcia, he was a husband, a father and a best friend. Mayte's deeply moving and intimate account of her life with Prince is the closest we'll now get to knowing the man behind the legend. Through Mayte's story a Prince like no other is revealed and I'm honoured to be publishing it."