It has been announced that A Promised Land, the first in a volume of former President Barack Obama’s memoirs will be published later this year by Viking. Set to be published shortly after the upcoming US election, A Promised Land will hit shelves on 17th November and will be available as a physical hardback, an ebook, and audiobook, and will be translated into 25 different languages.
A second and third book will also follow, though publication dates for these have yet to be announced, though details will soon be announced regarding a book tour to promote the first installment this Autumn. As The Bookseller reports, the book’s synopsis reads:
“In his own words, Barack Obama tells in A Promised Land the story of his improbable odyssey from a young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
“Providing a stirring, deeply personal account of history in the making, Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.”
Speaking of the book in his own words, Obama said: “There’s no feeling like finishing a book, and I’m proud of this one. I’ve spent the last few years reflecting on my presidency, and in A Promised Land I’ve tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidential campaign and my time in office: the key events and people who shaped it; my take on what I got right and the mistakes I made; and the political, economic, and cultural forces that my team and I had to confront then—and that as a nation we are grappling with still.
“In the book, I’ve also tried to give readers a sense of the personal journey that Michelle and I went through during those years, with all the incredible highs and lows. And finally, at a time when America is going through such enormous upheaval, the book offers some of my broader thoughts on how we can heal the divisions in our country going forward and make our democracy work for everybody—a task that won’t depend on any single president, but on all of us as engaged citizens. Along with being a fun and informative read, I hope more than anything that the book inspires young people across the country—and around the globe—to take up the baton, lift up their voices, and play their part in remaking the world for the better.”
Viking’s parent company Penguin Random House’s CEO Mark Dohle stated: “Through his words and actions, President Obama has had an indelible impact on the world and the course of history, serving as a beacon of hope and progress that has inspired so many. He is also a supremely gifted and accomplished writer, and it is a great honour for Penguin Random House to publish A Promised Land for readers everywhere. I know they will find it to be a book that vividly brings history to life, reminding us of the power of democracy even during times of global crisis.”
The English edition will be 768 pages and also includes two 16-page photographic inserts. It’s suggested retail price will be £35.
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