Diane Abbott’s Memoir Acquired at Auction by Viking

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of A WOMAN LIKE ME: A Memoir by Diane Abbott, by Viking, which will be published in summer 2022. UK & Commonwealth (excluding Canada) rights were acquired by Alpana Sajip and Mary Mount from Juliet Pickering, in a six-publisher auction.

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A WOMAN LIKE ME will be a powerful memoir that tells the story of modern Britain, from one of the UK’s most original and inspiring politicians.

June 1987: Diane Abbott makes history as the first elected Black female MP in the UK. Since then, she has survived more than three decades in parliament, campaigning tirelessly for a better future for Britain, from increasing access to education through the Black Child Initiative, to consistently voting in favour of higher disability benefits. With her trademark frankness and humour, her memoir will celebrate an extraordinary life and encourage a new generation to surpass expectations, just as she has done.

In her honest and moving book, Diane takes the reader through her incredible journey, from growing up in North London with her Jamaican parents to entering the Houses of Parliament as a bright and ambitious young politician. In doing so, she paints a candid portrait of what it’s like to face a barrage of hostility every day, shows us how she was able to battle impostor syndrome and succeed against the odds, and empowers us with the strength to change the fabric of this country for the better.

 Alpana Sajip said, ‘Diane is a titan of British public and political life, and we couldn’t be prouder to be publishing her memoir. She has inspired generations of Britons through her unwavering efforts, and we know that by sharing her story with the world, she will continue to do so.’

 Mary Mount said, ‘We are so thrilled to be publishing Diane Abbott’s memoir at Viking. In many ways her life story is a story of modern Britain. It is a unique life and Diane has a unique voice which we can’t wait to bring to readers across the country.’

 Diane Abbott said: “I am very excited to be working on this memoir with Viking. It is a long-awaited chance to tell my own story, in my own words. My parents were part of the Windrush generation. Nobody could have guessed that their bespectacled little girl would grow up to be a British member of Parliament, and this will be the story of that journey.”

A WOMAN LIKE ME can be pre-ordered at Sevenoaks Bookshop.