Weidenfeld & Nicolson pre-empts In the Cut reissue

Orion imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson (W&N) has pre-empted a reissue of “cult classic” In the Cut by Susanna Moore.

Commissioning editor Lettice Franklin pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights from Emma Paterson at Aitken Alexander on behalf of Stephanie Cabot at the Gernert Agency. It will be published as trade paperback, e-book and audio in autumn 2019.

The novel, described as a “masterpiece of literary suspense and sexual exploration”, was first published in 1995 and gained a following from its adaptation into a 2003 Meg Ryan film. It has been out of print in the UK since 2002 but Franklin said she now wanted it to reach a new generation of readers.

The novel follows creative writing teacher Frannie, who lives alone in New York. The synopsis explains: "One evening at a bar, she stumbles upon a man, his face in shadow, a woman kneeling between his legs. A week later a detective visits her, asking questions about the woman’s murder. Soon Frannie is propelled into a sexual liaison that reveals the darkness in the outside world – and deep within her secret desires.”

Franklin said: “In the Cut is a book that, once read, is never forgotten. We at W&N have been talking about the novel for some time and are so excited to be working with Emma to introduce it to a new generation of readers. An erotic thriller written in razor-sharp, devastatingly stylish prose, In the Cut is a story about male violence, female sexuality and ever-present danger that could not resonate more today. It is very erotic, very violent and very brilliant – and I think it should attract a lot of attention and a lot of readers.”

Paterson added: “I’ve re-read In the Cut precisely twice a year since it was first pressed into my hands in 2014. It is a stone-cold masterpiece but wears its powers so nonchalantly and so wryly that it is hard, at first, to understand exactly how she does it. I cannot wait to see how new readers respond to this compulsive, brave and devastating book.”