First details on The English Roses
From an article by Joal Ryan, EOnline.com:
Yes, the work of the pop priestess turned literary lioness is bound for destinations both major (Germany, Italy, France) and minor (the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Croatia).In all, Madonna’s fiction debut, a children’s book entitled The English Roses, is expected to hit bookstores in more than 100 countries, in 42 different languages, on September 15, her publisher announced Friday.
The launch is billed as the largest ever “simultaneous multi-language release,” presumably meaning no book, not even a Harry Potter installment, has ever been translated into as many tongues at the same time as Madonna’s tome.
As previously reported, The English Roses will be the first in a series of five kid-friendly titles, “all of which were written by” the 44-year-old mother of two, a press release from Callaway Editions and Penguin Group points out.
No publication dates yet for the other books.
In a statement, Nicholas Callaway, editor and publisher of Callaway Editions, said Madonna’s stories “have struck a chord with some of the world’s most expert children’s publishers.”
Said Callaway: “It’s hardly news that Madonna knows how to communicate.”
Of course, not. Now, on the matter of whether Madonna knows how to act… While her film career hit the rocks with last year’s Swept Away, and her latest album, American Life, made a quick exit from the Top 10, the M One’s literary life is booming.
Her publisher says it’ll print a Potter-esque 400,000 first-edition copies of The English Roses for U.S. readers. Additionally, the book will debut the same day–September 15–in countries from Brazil to Slovenia.
“We will have a new generation throughout the world that will know Madonna as an inspiring storyteller,” Callaway said.
Details on exactly on what all we Earthlings will be reading remain sketchy. In the press release, The English Roses is described as a “story for young readers about friendship, jealousy, sleepover parties, and fairy godmothers.” The book will feature “stunning full-color illustrations” by an as-yet unidentified “acclaimed” artist.
While her first fiction effort, The English Roses is the Brit-based Madonna’s second book, after the 1992 photo essay, Sex. We don’t know how many languages that title appeared in. But we seem to remember it didn’t need a lot of translation.