Allen Lane and Knopf will simultaneously
publish the first volume of Margaret Thatcher's authorized biography, written
by Charles Moore, "immediately following her funeral." The biography
of the former British prime minister, who died Monday at the age of 87, was
commissioned in 1997 with the proviso that it would only be published after her
death. (Volume one is called NOT FOR TURNING; the second and final volume,
which Moore is currently working on, will be called HERSELF ALONE.) Moore was
given full access to Thatcher's private papers, and interviewed her
extensively: "she supported all his requests for interviews with others,
including those who worked most closely with her and her own family." But
Thatcher herself "did not read the manuscript before her death,"
Penguin says.
Allen Lane publishing director Stuart
Proffitt said in the announcement:
"Charles Moore's biography of Margaret Thatcher immediately supersedes all
earlier books written about her. Having worked closely with Baroness Thatcher
on both volumes
of her autobiography,
and read all the other main books about her, I was astonished at how much Moore
says which has never been public before. At the moment when she becomes a
historical figure, this book also makes her into a three dimensional one for
the first time."
Thatcher's death also spurred announcements
of competing biographies. Transworld will publish NOT FOR TURNING: The Life of
Margaret Thatcher, written by her longtime speechwriter (and draftsman of her
own two-volume autobiography) Robin Harris on April 25, while Harper Press will
publish a single-volume edition of Thatcher's book as an ebook on Tuesday, with
the paperback and hardcover editions to follow later in the week.
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