John Murray pre-empts 'compelling new voice'
13.10.10 - Charlotte Williams - The Bookseller


John Murray has pre-empted UK and Commonwealth (excluding Canada) rights to debut novel You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik.
Publishing director Eleanor Birne acquired the rights from Cathryn Summerhayes at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment on behalf of Eric Simonoff.

You Deserve Nothing is set an international school in Paris and is about a young teacher, Will, who has an affair with a student.
Birne described the title as "completely compelling". She said: "It is so accomplished, so confident, so brilliantly written. This is Alexander Maksik's first novel and it heralds the arrival of an amazing new voice in fiction."

In the US, the novel has been handpicked by Alice Sebold, author of The Lovely Bones, to launch her imprint, Tonga Books, part of Europa Editions.

John Murray will publish in autumn 2011.