William Collins lands manifesto on violence against women by barrister Johnson

William Collins has landed an "urgent manifesto on the endless tide of violence against women" by barrister Harriet Johnson.

Jo Thompson, assistant commissioning editor, acquired world English language rights to Enough: The Violence Against Women and How to End It from Diana Beaumont at Marjacq. Publication is slated for 14th April in hardback, e-book and audio. 

The publisher said: "Johnson lays bare the status quo of abuse against women in our society, offering an irrefutable case for why change is needed in policing and justice. Most vitally, she also gives a manifesto for how to get there.   

"With expertise, clear-sightedness and appropriate fury, this book helps us see where women are suffering—from homicide to domestic abuse to sexual abuse to street harassment. It exposes the ways the criminal justice system lets women down—from officers failing to properly investigate, to a lack of consequences when police behaviour is unacceptable, to backlogged courts and the realities of convincing a jury. Addressing misogyny is to everyone’s benefit, and the answer isn’t simple. Enough is the call to arms we can all—and must all—get behind."

Thompson said: "This book comes from a deep well of frustration, rage and sadness that I think we’ve all been feeling when it comes to violence against women and girls in our society. I wanted to hear from someone who could deconstruct the root problems and propose overhaul. Someone who could bring together the awful landscape of violence and our criminal system’s inadequacies and put together a manifesto for the future. Harriet is a brilliant and formidable barrister who has always championed women and spoken up against injustice. I’m honoured to be working on this book with her and I hope that when Enough publishes in the spring it’ll be a demand for real change that we can all get behind."

Johnson added: "Whenever I’ve had the opportunity to write or speak publicly about the relationship between violence against women and the justice system, it has felt like there has been so much more to say than the space has allowed. I was enormously excited when Jo Thompson approached me to discuss a book on the subject and feel privileged to have the support of William Collins in writing it. My hope is that it will provide a clear analysis of where the problems lie, and, perhaps more importantly, a manifesto for change that will help to frame discussions about how we make the UK a safe place for women."