Bertelsmann's Knopf Will Publish Clinton's Memoir (Update2)
By Adam Steinhauer
New York, Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Bertelsmann AG's Alfred A. Knopf will publish former President Bill Clinton's memoir in 2003. Clinton will get an advance of more than $10 million, the largest for a nonfiction book, the New York Times reported.
Sonny Mehta, Knopf's president and editor-in-chief, bought the worldwide rights to Clinton's memoir, including serial publication, translations and audio and electronic versions, the company said in a statement.
Clinton's advance topped the $8.5 million paid to Pope John Paul II in 1994 for a book, the New York Times said earlier today. Other companies vying for the rights included Viacom Inc.'s Simon & Schuster unit, which is publishing the memoir of former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
``It's going to be a thorough and complete telling of his life,'' said Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for Knopf. He declined to comment on the terms of Clinton's contract.
The paperback version of Clinton's book will be published in 2004 by Bertelsmann's Vintage Books unit, following the hardback publication in 2003, Knopf said.
Robert Barnett, a partner in the Washington law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP, represented Clinton in discussions with Knopf.
Robert Gottlieb, who also edited books by former Washington Post Co. Chairman Katharine Graham and Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison, will edit the book. |
