"The book they burned is back." That's how the banner will read on Soft Skull Press's rush mid-January release of Fortunate Son: George W. Bush and the Making of an American President by J.H. Hatfield, a $16.50 trade paperback. A first printing of 25,000 copies is planned.
Although the reprint has been rumored for weeks, the New York City alternative press confirmed last week that it's taking on the controversial title, which was published last month under the Thomas Dunne Books imprint at St. Martin's--and then dropped shortly after publication when the criminal background of author Hatfield came to light.
In a release, Soft Skull senior editor N. Alexander "Sander" Hicks said the press is reprinting the book "to allow the voters to judge for themselves. We hope to prove that democracy can still exist regardless of the preferences of the privileged." He noted that "readers' responses on the Web show Americans are outraged at this title's suppression." Soft Skull's edition of Fortunate Son will include an index as well as a new introduction. As for Hatfield's key allegation, reportedly supported by three confidential sources, that Bush was arrested for cocaine possession in 1972 and had the arrest expunged from the record as a family favor, Soft Skull said that Hatfield "has adequately proven to us that these sources exist." The press also claimed not to be worried about being sued, despite former President Bush's on-air threat to do so. Soft Skull and its attorneys also conferred with St. Martin's counsel, "who didn't have a problem with the book up to the moment of publication."
Soft Skull paid what Hicks termed a "significant" advance for the book and has secured an e-book deal with Rocket Book, but it has had no luck so far attracting foreign rights deals. Hicks hinted that there had been some disagreements with agent Richard Curtis about announcing the reprint, and could not say whether the author, who went into hiding when the controversy first erupted, will tour.
