PRH to publish books by Obamas

Penguin Random House has acquired world rights to two books by former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in a deal reportedly worth US$65m (A$85m).

According to the Associated Press, Barack Obama’s book will be ‘a straightforward memoir about his presidency’, while Michelle Obama plans to write ‘an inspirational work for young people that will draw upon her life story’.

The publisher has not revealed the terms of the deal but said it would donate one million books in the Obama family’s name to First Book, a longstanding PRH non-profit partner that provides books and learning materials to children in need in the US and Canada. The Obamas also plan to donate a significant portion of their author proceeds to charity, including the Obama Foundation.

PRH CEO Markus Dohle said the publisher was ‘thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs Obama’ and was looking forward to making ‘each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance’.

Category: International news