news from PublishersLunch:

Blair Memoir Set for September

Random House will publish former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's book TONY BLAIR: THE JOURNEY this September, via Hutchinson in the UK and Knopf and Knopf Canada in North America. The company says rights have been sold in twelve territories. (They acquired rights in October 2007.)

Random UK ceo Gail Rebuck promises in the announcement that "his book is frank, open, revealing, and written in an intimate and accessible style. As an account of the nature and uses of power, it will have a readership that extends well beyond politics, to all those who want to understand the challenge of leadership in today's world." Blair adds, "I have really enjoyed the writing of the book. I have tried to write a book which describes the human as much as the political dimensions of life as Prime Minister. Though necessarily retrospective, it is an attempt to inform and shape current and future thinking as much as an historical account of the past."

A WSJ blog opines "the implication is that Blair thinks it will be safe by then to release his 'frank and revealing' book on life as PM because another party might well be in power. It will be said in certain quarters that this announcement amounts to Tony writing off Gordon or at least pricing in a change of government. His decision to publish so soon doesn't necessarily scream confidence in a Labor win."