Roots has been a steady seller for Perseus ever since the company took over publication of the title in 2006, and the house is hoping a new television miniseries will give sales another boost. The company's Da Capo Press imprint is releasing a tie-in edition to the Roots series that is set to run over four nights beginning on May 30 on the History channel. The show will also be simulcast on A&E and Lifetime.
To take advantage of the production, Da Capo has redesigned the front cover of the book that features art the ties into the series. The trade paperback will be priced at $18.99 and Perseus has an announced first printing of 150,000 copies. A Da Capo spokesperson said the publisher is working with the History channel on in-store, online, social media and educational outreach programs, although no details have yet been worked out. Da Capo will send the new edition to TV critics across the country. The book will be released May 3.
Perseus first began publishing Roots in 2006 after the original publisher, Doubleday, let the book go out of print. The book, written by Alex Haley and first published in 1972, was originally published by the company's Vanguard imprint which was offered higher royalties in lieu in large advances. The novel moved to Da Capo after Perseus folded Vanguard.
Perseus CEO David Steinberger said the company is excited to be publishing a new Roots edition: "It's a book for the legions of earlier readers to revisit and for a new generation to discover," he said.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the name of Alex Haley, the author of Roots.
