Knopf has acquired the U.S. publishing rights to The Spy, a new novel by Paulo Coelho. The book, by the bestselling author of The Alchemist, is set for a November 22 release.
Anne Messitte, executive v-p of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, brokered the deal with Monica R. Antunes at Sant Jordi Asociados. The book is set to be published simultaneously in English language territories around the world.
The Spy is based on the life of Dutch exotic dancer and accused spy Mata Hari, who was executed during the First World War. Coelho, using on first person narration, tells a reimagined version of her life in the novel. “Mata Hari was one of our first feminists, defying male expectations of that time and choosing instead an independent, unconventional life,” the author said in a statement.
With an initial print run of 150,000, The Spy will be published by Knopf simultaneously in hardcover and e-book. Penguin Random House will be releasing a physical audiobook edition, and a digital download. The novel will also be published by Vintage Español as a Spanish-language hardcover.
According to Knopf, Coelho’s books have been translated into 80 languages and have sold more than 200 million copies in 160 countries.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said this acquisition marked a move of house for Coelho. It does not. He has been published by Knopf for a number of years.
