Just announced:
(New York, NY — July 30, 2014) George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President. The currently untitled book will be released in the U.S. and Canada by Crown Publishers on November 11, 2014, in print and digital formats. Random House Audio will simultaneously issue an audio edition. The hardcover edition has an announced first printing of one million copies.
Tina Constable and Molly Stern, both Senior Vice Presidents and Publishers at The Crown Publishing Group, jointly acquired world, audio, electronic, and first and second serial rights to the work. Robert Barnett of Williams & Connolly represented President Bush and negotiated the exclusive submission. Ms. Stern will edit the book in collaboration with Mary Choteborsky, Senior Editor.
Forty-three men have served as President of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a President told the story of his father, another President, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush’s life and career, including his service in the Pacific during World War II, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business, and his political rise as a Congressman, U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA Director, Vice President, and President. The book shines new light on both the accomplished leader and the warm, decent man known best by his family. In addition, George W. Bush discusses his father’s influence on him throughout his own life, from his childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term Presidency.
For those with healthy denial mechanisms, a reminder: the "author" was himself President once. 27% of Americans actually think that was a good thing. This, um, literary offering is, one presumes, for those fine folks, the people who never gave up loving America's Worst Chief Executive, despite his costing them six trillion dollars, give or take a few kids.
And what a blockbuster it promises to be. Told by a legendary master of the English language, himself one of the few who can truly understand the reverence and responsibility that comes with being Decider in Chief, the book can only further burnish the legend of a man who's whole life was legend.
What intimate secrets will be revealed? Will we finally come to know why the Bay of Pigs invasion was named after Poppy's oil company? Will Poppy finally get credit for taking down Dick Nixon? Will Junior forgive his father for crying when Pere realized Jeb's chances of ever becoming president had been destroyed?
We don't know. Heck, we don't even know the title. But stay tuned, bibliophiles, and be ready to pounce when this Terribly Important Tome roars down the express lane to the remainder bin.
If this baby doesn't stop that door, it's time for a new door!
Feel free to pre-blurb in comments.