Connery writing book
2006-07-06 12:29
Edinburgh - Sean Connery, who has said he
would not live in his Scotland again until it became
independent, is writing a book about his native country mixed
with autobiographical anecdotes, his publishers said.
Canongate Books of Edinburgh said it had acquired world
English-language rights to the film star's memoirs, Connery's Scotland, in conjunction with Polygon.
"Our goal is to produce a very readable, visually
stimulating and hopefully intriguing history of Scotland, with
personal discoveries," Connery said.
Best known for his screen portrayal of fictional British spy
James Bond, Connery will work in collaboration with writer and
filmmaker Murray Grigor.
Connery, the Edinburgh-born son of a truck driver, worked
together with Grigor on an award-winning documentary, Sean
Connery's Edinburgh. The star now lives in the Bahamas.
The Herald newspaper quoted Grigor as saying: "The content
of the book is not quite all settled, and we have just been
discussing exactly what will go into it."
Canongate said the book would be published in September next
year to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the political
union of Scotland and England in 1707.
Canongate said it would include "his unique take on the
individuals, often unrecognised, who have played their part in
Scotland's extraordinary history".
The 75-year-old actor, who rose from milkman and local model
to superstardom, has been a keen backer of the Scottish National
Party (SNP) which seeks Scottish independence from the United
Kingdom.
Canongate declined to say what Connery would be paid.
The Scotsman newspaper suggested two years ago, when
reporting Connery was interested in writing his memoirs, that he
could expect bids of three million pounds or more
from publishers.
Canongate publisher Jamie Byng said his firm was "absolutely
thrilled" to be publishing Connery.