Liveright to Publish American edition of New Clive James Book

By Jason Guriel

Liveright publishing, an imprint of W.W. Norton, will be bringing out an American edition of Clive James' recent book of poems, Sentenced to Life.

A source close to James told Partisan that Liveright, who are hoping for a large Collected Poems manuscript from James next year, had no plans to publish the smaller book in the United States, but were encouraged by its almost unprecedented critical and commercial success in the UK.

James, a critic and broadcaster celebrated for his witty prose style, has received attention lately for poems about living with cancer and facing mortality. Sentenced to Life is currently Amazon UK's bestselling book of poetry.

Asked by e-mail to comment, Clive James answered from England that he was not at liberty to say anything specific but that the "situation seems not unpleasing."