The leak about Prince Harry’s memoir came in the summer of 2021. I always believed that Harry and Penguin Random House didn’t intend for the news to come out at that moment, but they hastily arranged a confirmation, with Harry issuing a statement about his intent for writing the memoir. In the roughly fifteen months that followed the leak and confirmation, the British media has been beside themselves, hand-wringing and whining, threatening and lying. Personally, I had my fingers crossed for a November release just to be able to move on from this neverending “what’s in the book?!” melodrama at long last. It looks like Harry’s memoir has been pushed back about a month though – the NY Times reports that it will come out on January 10, 2023.
It seemed like a sure thing, or as close to a sure thing as is possible in book publishing: Prince Harry, who was living in self-imposed exile after his stormy exit from the British royal family, was writing a tell-all. After months of frenzied speculation, the book has a publication date: Jan. 10, 2023, according to industry executives.
The memoir, the first in a competitive multi-book deal with Penguin Random House, was initially scheduled for late 2022 and expected to be a blockbuster. It was part of a broader push by Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to build their brands as media moguls: Beyond the book contract, with a rumored price tag of at least $20 million, the couple signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II last month, any attacks the memoir might make on members of the royal family, or the monarchy, could strike many readers as unseemly. Prince Harry has gotten cold feet about the memoir’s contents at various points, book industry executives with knowledge of the process told The Times, and the project has been shrouded in rumors, delays and secrecy.
The memoir will be published at a delicate moment for the British monarchy and public, which is still adjusting to King Charles III and reeling from economic and political instability. Its release also thrusts Prince Harry into an impossible situation. Damaging revelations could hurt the monarchy and his relationship with his family. But holding back could dampen sales, making it more difficult for his publisher to recoup its considerable costs — and could erode Harry’s self-made image as the rebellious, truth-telling prince.
“Is his goal to enhance his celebrity with a certain sector of the public, or is it to repair the rift with his family?” said the literary agent Matt Latimer, co-founder of the Javelin agency, which represents politicians and public figures like James Comey, the former director of the F.B.I., and John Bolton, the former national security adviser. “Those are competing goals to some extent, and it’s hard to do both.”
Penguin Random House declined to comment. A representative for Harry and Meghan also declined to comment.
“Don’t forget, the British royal family is there by consent, they need to earn and keep the respect of the British public,” said Valentine Low, a journalist and the author of “Courtiers: Intrigue, Ambition and the Power Players Behind the House of Windsor.” “If that is ever damaged in a fundamental and permanent way, that could be very serious.”
What is the NY Times doing here? “Any attacks the memoir might make on members of the royal family, or the monarchy, could strike many readers as unseemly”…? Unseemly like the new Princess of Wales looting the dead queen’s jewelry before the body was even cold? Unseemly like Queen Elizabeth’s son selling off her prized racehorses? Unseemly like Charles, Camilla, William and Kate yukking it up and prancing around, taking Drab Four portraits the night before the Queen’s funeral? That kind of unseemly?
“Is his goal to enhance his celebrity with a certain sector of the public, or is it to repair the rift with his family?” I didn’t know literary agents needed grown men to supplicate themselves before their dysfunctional and racist families? What business is it of Rando Literary Agent if Harry repairs the rift with his family?
Anyway, since it’s the New York Times, I suspect that the release date is true. I hate that the British media now has a two-month-plus lead time to wage a smear campaign on Harry ahead of the release.
Update: Holy crap, apparently Harry’s memoir is titled Spare. AMAZING. Penguin Random House just confirmed the release date too, so it looks like the NYT got it right. Look at this cover!!!
We are excited to announce the remarkably personal and emotionally powerful story of Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.
SPARE, the highly anticipated #PrinceHarryMemoir, will be published on January 10, 2023. Learn more at https://t.co/L0I4CT4flH pic.twitter.com/iqdBjBwkWE
— Random House Group (@randomhouse) October 27, 2022
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attending the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany. Pictured: Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 6 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Dusseldorf, GERMANY – Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attending the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany. Pictured: Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 6 SEPTEMBER 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 06 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 06 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 06 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the press conference during the One Year to Go event, one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023, at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 06 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attend a lunch reception during the Invictus Games One Year to Go event which marks one year before Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 06 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 14 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**
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- Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Duchess of Sussex Where: London, Britain, United Kingdom When: 14 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**
I hate to say it, but the NYT is trash. I unsubscribed during the 2016 presidential election.
I did the same
I used to think it was a progressive newspaper and even picked up a copy now and then from bookstores where they sold international newspapers just to support.
Often seem to get disappointed when I do those things.
Better to give to local charities instead.
It is progressive, or fancies itself that way. But it’s also become a really bad newspaper – poorly written, poor research, slapdash reporting, more interested in opinion and agenda than fact. This particular piece on Harry’s book is total tabloid language.
Thank you for explaining more about it.
I stopped buying it because I got annoyed by something, but now can’t remember what it was 🙂
For me, the issue with the NYT is that i feel like it sold itself for access when it came to Trump. Yes, there was lots of criticism of Trump, lots of breaking stories. But there was still a “both sides” mentality to some of the stories. and they were trash in the 2016 election, I’m convinced they were part of the reason Hillary lost.
I don’t think the NYT is progressive at all. It’s not a right wing mouthpiece but it’s still a tool of the powerful establishment. Its copaganda is grotesque and I’m not surprised that it sides here with the royal family. The “Grey Lady” is all about holding up institutions of white supremacy-it just don’t shout it like the right wing outlets.
Yes, @Becks1 and @Jess – that’s why I say it fancies itself to be progressive. It’s the white, East Coast, elite gatekeepers form of progressivism. I’ve always expected this from the NYT, but at least the writing was better.
I don’t think there are any high-quality progressive newspapers anymore. I would love to be wrong about this.
Trash is right. So they couldn’t get any quotes from someone who isn’t obv fronting for the RF. Valentine Low? GTFOH
I didn’t even make it to the election. But, her emails seems like a long forgotten dream. Or nightmare as it were.
The NYT has journalists like Maggie Hagerman twisting themselves into pretzels to present a both-sides, “unbiased” account of Trump’s crimes but cover Harry’s book like DM?
@FC Yeah, the Maggie Haberman garbage was the deal breaker for me as well. I canceled my NYT subscription and cited my concerns when prompted to share the reason for my cancellation (not that they cared, I’m sure). I do still have a NYT Cooking subscription, but I’m considering canceling that too because I don’t want to financially prop up the NYT in any way.
What are Celebitchies’ favorite news sources of choice these days, when it comes to journalistic ethics and rigor? For me, it’s PBS News Hour… and not much else.
@Deesea: I like the Guardian, enough that I voluntarily contribute just like I do to NPR. I used to get all my news from NPR on my commute but the news itself got so depressing it was ruining my mornings so I had to stop.
This. The nyt claims to offer both sides but this article lacks a counter viewpoint. They need to read Kaiser’s points and rewrite this one-sided article.
Does anyone else follow New York Times Pitchbot on twitter?
It is perfect at mimicking the fatuousness of the Times and following that account is cathartic.
@gruey, yes, I do! And it’s especially amazing when a pitchbot take, even down to a similar headline, actually gets published days or weeks later. It’s happened more than once. Like the NYT is copying its own parody.
Hard agree with Becks1, Jess, Eurydice and others regarding NYT both sides-ing, copaganda, thin-skinned access-journalism (boy do they get defensive!), East coast wealth protectionism and elitist goggles. It’s been a shit show since the Howard Raines 2000-era war mongering. Or maybe that’s just as far back as my memory allows.
They quote the Daily Mail!!!!!!! Multiple times!!!! And use Low and Richard Fitzwilliam as sources!!! Ditzy Fitzy was one of the fools pranked by the donkey sanctuary you tube guys! I mean, COME ON!!! 🤡🤡
About the memoir itself:
I’m shocked at the date. Looks like some earlier reporting WAS right and book went back for rewrites. No reason to miss holiday sales otherwise. And that weird date screams “need to publish before any leaks.”
Hats off to whoever pushed for that title though. 💣
@ Gruey
I do now! Thanks!
@lurker25 I’m replying to my previous comment because it just hit me that I got the publisher’s strategy all wrong the first time and this very well could have been the original on sale date.
Harry’s book will be a best seller no matter when it’s published so it doesn’t need holiday sales push, at all.
In fact, it will cannibalize sales of *other* titles the publisher wants to promote and was saving to push around the holidays.
Those Christmas present books will be bought before the 25th no matter what. People aren’t going to wait until January 10th to buy Christmas presents.
So this avoids the Xmas buying entirely and creates its own buying window, pulling people back into opening their wallets, right after those wallets have taken a big hit.
That’s a really strong statement of confidence. Harry’s book will create its own sales season. Damn.
@lurker and how many times do they just tweet an actual headline and are like, no notes!
Frankly, there is something tragic in all this because the NYT has and still does find some of the best journalism in the world, yet they have truly soiled their reputation. Many of us unsubscribed during the Trump years for very good reason.
The NYT Pitchbot is so so funny!
@Lurker25. Another great thing about the publication date is that it hits the post-holiday slump / beginning of awful weather season for some of us. I live in theMid-Atlantic, and I often plan Blizzard Projects for those times when the dreariness of cold weather and lack of sunlight hits. Sometimes I knit, sometimes I clean my closets, sometimes I practice new, fun skills — whatever might bring me a sense of joy and accomplishment. I just pre-ordered this year’s Project.
I do too, as of today. I had no idea this was a thing.
Same here. And it hurts because I know people who have worked there and they are dedicated, talented people. The reporters and their support staff are not the problem. Or at least, they didn’t use to be. It’s the management, the editorial staff, and to some degree, the culture. It’s money.
What Haberman did (and still does) was disgusting. And apparently she is kind of an awful person anyway.
Who is this reporter? A Brit, or an American with no spine or dignity? Blech.
Anyway, “Spare” is a GREAT name. I’m sorry it’s delayed but no worries, I’ll buy two copies. Or three.
This article sounded exactly like the London Times style of “journalism” Why the commentary on how the book could impact family relations? They are even quoting Valentine Low. Very gossipy and unprofessional piece.
The implication is that the royal family is to be left in peace to keep pretending to be what they are not. Heaven help Harry if he points out that the emperor has no clothes.
It may be the NYT, but the did nothing but quote the daily fail and Valentine Low for this shitty article. Both Harry’s spokesperson & the publishing house declined to comment, so I highly doubt
the release date is true.
They most likely will release it on schedule this year, but will not inform any media before the drop, hence every media desperately playing guessing games re: the release date!!
Nevermind, it has been confirmed!!
And he titled it “Spare”! I love this guy!!😂🤣
Just preordered the hardcover. I was going to get the Kindle version but I think this is one I’m going to want to feel the weight of in my hands while I’m reading it, lol.
The title is provocative and no holds barred. I. Cannot. Wait!
Bravo 👏 to Prince Harry for making lemonade out of 🍋. To quote the Walls saying This is how you do it 🤣. The word which for so many years was meant to be a negative he turned around and empowered and OWNED it hence making it a positive. It’ll be an instant best seller thanks to the rota and the daily fail. 🎙️ Drop
And he’s reading the audio book! I can’t wait for this!
Okay so do I need the audio book, the kindle edition AND the hardcover? Definitely just pre-ordered the hardcover, LOL.
@C Shell do some celebs not read their own audio books? Never bought one,that seems strange to have someone else do the reading though.
Yes, they do read their own memoirs as far as I know — as I did with the Obamas, I could listen to Harry endlessly.
I saw that but, couldn’t find it on Amazon Audiblebooks to pre-order. 🙁
@LauraD , you have to go through the link on the Prince Harry Memoir website and then it takes you to “untitled 3806” which is the memoir.
@Becks, at the mo it’s only available in the US via Audible. 🙁 Here in the UK we can order the Hardcover, Kindle or a CD. They’ve got until January to sort it so I’ll just keep clicking and waiting. 😆
It doesn’t matter how many licenses the New York Public Library gets. The waitlist for the book or the audiobook will be six months long on day one.
Get all 3! I am lol. Luckily, I always ask for Amazon gift cards for Christmas so I am all set.
My husband somehow got on audible a few years ago – like we get the damn 15 dollars charged to us every month – but he NEVER uses audible (no clue how he got signed up for it LOL) and he can’t cancel bc then he loses the credits apparently? So I’m trying to use them up for him so I told him to order me Spare, lol.
I’m going to have to order it on Kindle too bc sometimes an amazon preorder gets to me the day before, but sometimes I get it at like 5pm that day, and I ‘m not going to wait that long to read it.
I’m clearly taking January 10 off.
Just smashed that preorder button for the hardcover so hard! Am having rotator cuff surgery in the new year and might order the audio version for recuperation. It’s going to be a miserable time, so I will pamper myself with listening to him read his story. I’m so happy for both of them, and I hope writing this book provided a much needed catharsis for him. And the title is epic!
My husband just asked if I was planning to follow along in the book as Harry read it to me and I have to admit that was not my intention (I never read along to audio books like that) but now I might have to do that, LOL.
I pre-ordered the audiobook and hardcover, I am so excited!
Do publishing houses release the numbers for pre-orders?
Finally managed to pre-order on Amazon UK. I would love to know the numbers of the pre-orders. Bowers et el are going to be green with envy with the amount of excitement this release has caused.
He’s #1 on Amazon in the U.S., I feel like a proud mama!
Lol. I absolutely love how Harry and Meghan have taken back their power and story and now they same people who still want and desperately need to make money off them have no access, no influence, nothing 😂 The successful business ventures, podcasts, awards, donations. I don’t even know this couple and I’m proud of them. Lol.
I’ve seldom loved celebrities before like this, but they’re now up there with Princess Diana, Michelle Obama and BTS for me 🥰.
So, yes, am proud of them too.
Doing another stream of Meghan’s podcast on my mother’s phone with her. Every stream helps build their success.
The royal family’s complaints about the book helped guarantee it will be a best seller!
I have my doubts that it’s true even if it’s the NYT. There was too much reliance on DM talking points and Valentine Low who is desperately pushing his own book. I hope it’s not true, I was really looking forward to reading it during the Christmas season.
The NYT might as well be a Murdoch paper now.
And that’s so tragic. It’s called the fourth estate for a reason. Murdoch has don’t so much damage to democracy and, frankly, to peoples’ brains
Prince Harry was “living in self-imposed exile?” I think not! A, Harry and Meghan were all but driven out of England by the combined tabloid and family environment which had pushed Meghan to the brink of suicide. B) The timing coincided 100% with the start of the global pandemic. The whole world was quarantined! You could say everyone on Earth was in “self-imposed exile.” God I hate the New York Times.
If it’s true it would be three years after they announced that they would be stepping down as working royals. I’m sad that it leaked.
It didn’t leak. It’s been up on British publisher’s website since about 5am central time here in the States. I saw it on Campaign to Abolish the Monarchy twitter feed at 5:30 central time.
NYT had this story yesterday afternoon though, so there was a leak I think -but it seems it was a really small leak. Like they were going to go live today with the announcement anyway and someone just alerted NYT and gave them a heads up.
I don’t count less than 24 hours as a leak, especially since they didn’t even have the title. That’s the story as far as I’m concerned. 😉
It’s officially been confirmed – press release from Random House. Already put in my order!!
Already getting ready to pre-order. Perfect title too. Let them Striesand this, as much as we all hate how the press is, Harry will just get richer off this and he can build up his case against those mfrs
I saw the cover and title ‘Spare’ on the daily fail,it must be true.
If I could cancel the NYT YET AGAIN, I so would. WTF?! Quoting (as Kaiser puts it) the rando agent for Comey and Bolton, not to mention Valentine Lowest of the Low, and characterizing Harry’s MEMOIR as a tell-all just sounds like the same old narrative we’ve been doused with from the 🐀🐀🐀 and 🤡🤡🤡. It undermines the credibility of the entire article so I’m not convinced the release date “according to industry executives” is reliable. I don’t care if it’s in the NYT.
ETA — okay, I see it’s been confirmed and available for presale. *runs off to throw money at Amazon — runs back — it’s not there y’all*
Yes it is! It’s “untitled 3806” ebook LOL. When you click through it tells you teh title.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCP3JP6F?tag=randohouseinc47720-20
This story is changing so fast I can’t keep up! Yep, found it through the PrinceHarrymemoir.com site, and pre-ordered the hardback! Another link:
https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-3806-Random-House-Group/dp/0593593804/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
@becks1
Thanks was easy as pie, my book order confirmed.
Well, nuts. I was also hoping it would come out in November. I was so hopeful I told my kid that’s what I wanted for Xmas. Ha! Now I need to amend my plans for the holidays…..
@Beck1 Thxs for link, easily ordered my 2 copies 😄
“If that is ever damaged in a fundamental and permanent way, that could be very serious.”
GOOD. Fuck this racist, classist, thieving institution that only values women as broodmares.
Spare is an absolutely brilliant title.
Yes, I love the title. It’s throwing their insulting way of styling the second born back at them.
Yes, that quote really stood out for me – along with the other half – ““Don’t forget, the British royal family is there by consent, they need to earn and keep the respect of the British public,” said Valentine Low”
Suggests to me that Valentine Low, for all his toadying as a prime rota rat, knows damn well that members of the RF have done stuff to M&H that, if made public, would undermine respect for the RF enough that it could threaten the actual existence of the Monarchy. Imagine being so badly behaved that a member of your family simply telling the truth about your treatment of them gets you fired.
Bring. It. On.
There must be some pretty awful secrets if it eclipses the racism they have exhibited even in public with comments (Phil), taking bags of cash, friends and family who are perverts, casual adultery, exempting themselves from laws, living in castles with stolen jewels while their “subjects” struggle, having big splashy funerals and celebrations while “commoners” are in bad situations. Losing the respect of the Brit public requires what?
That bit stood out to me too. Like……what harry might say is so bad that it could put the existence of the BRF into jeopardy?
So what I’m wondering now is if a RR is going to spill some of the beans before the memoir comes out, to get ahead of the memoir and to try take some of the wind out of its sails?
Meaning, if I’m Valentine Low, or Richard Palmer, or emily andrews or Chris Ship (not Kay or Eden or Wootton or Levin or Junor lol), and I know that Prince William or King Charles did something REALLY REALLY bad, and I know what that is, and I’ve been sitting on it for years, and now there’s a chance that Harry is going to spill it, I might make the choice to spill it on my own so I get the accolades and the praise for breaking this story wide open and telling truth to power and all that.
Like if I’m a RR, I might decide to take this opportunity to make a name for myself outside of the royal circles. You would be blowing your career, royals-wise, so it would have to be something big, something that would make your career in other areas, you know?
Hopefully, one of them will break and spill and then the event isn’t even mentioned in PH’s book.
Burger King is absolutely going to leak his nefarious deeds ahead of time. He can’t help it. Or maybe he’ll throw CarolE/Kate under the bus instead?
Low admitted he sat on info that Meghan was seeking medical attention. Because he knew it would make her look sympathetic. So it wouldn’t be out of turn for him to sit on other stories that make the family look bad.
The rota are the original access journalists after all.
I think whatever Charles and Will have done, is someting the RR and the Tories consider unforgivable. Corruption, racisim, sexism, misstreatment of people they consider below them, will never be a real problem in their eyes.
Those people dream of the world of the 1950 where POC and women were legally below white men.
I think with the disussin about CK III spider memos, it must be something really breaking with tradition. Attempts of political interference that were against the whishes of the tories?
@Harper, you are right about Burger King. He is not clever. I hope he does throw KKKate under the bus, because between them, I suspect he may be the lesser of two evils.
@ equality
<>
A guillotine?
Not serious! Obviously, the BRF under Elizabeth was a credit to Britain — despite the de-industrialization of Britain, the loss of the Empire, and becoming a 2nd-rate power– she cloaked a regal glamour over all the losses.
Like a witch’s glamour, she occulted the realities and made the British think they were IMPORTANT. Her reign during the dissolution of the Empire and de-industrialization will be studied by scholars for years.
Will the Brits feel the same about Charles and Will? IDK. Will has a better chance, Chuck should just step aside.
Whatever — just my opinion.
Preordered and to heck with checking how many Australian dollars that just set me back!
@Becks I am STILL wondering what the EFF they were talking about last week when the word abdication was actually brought up. What on earth could Charles have done?? It’s haunting me! I need to know 😫
I’m so excited! I keep imagining all the palaces like that ‘Community’ meme with everyone running around screaming and on fire. Between The Crown and this book confirmation, they must be losing it. (I did not account for the financial and political crisis in the UK, given I doubt they care, except to maybe be jealous the new PM is richer than them AND is a POC.)
Spare or The Spare? Which is better, and why? Discuss.
Spare, hands down. It allows for so much more room. Is it a noun? A verb? An adjective? It allow the reader a lot of latitude to decide.
Vs.
‘The,’ which is a definite article, limiting meaning to just a noun.
I know! My gut response to that is……PROMISE?!
It could be true – I trust something coming out of NYT more than the Fail – but until we get confirmation from Penguin or Harry, then we just don’t know. I kind of find it weird that it would come out in January, when releasing it a month earlier would make it a possibility for holiday gifts and probably increase the sales, but maybe the thinking is that it will be a bestseller regardless and this coincides with the date of their announcement of leaving the BRF?
Valentine Low’s quote is interesting there though, about how the memoir has the power to damage the BRF by permanently impacting how the public views them. Again we’re back to…..what goes on in that family/Firm that the RRs all seem to know, and why is it so damaging?
I don’t believe though that there has been any change in the publication date (i.e. if it was meant to be January 10, its going to be January 10) or that Harry is walking back anything he said. If he was willing to say it while the Queen was alive, he’s going to say it now that she’s dead.
Annnnd now we’ve got confirmation!!! Oh man the cover!!! SPARE!!! I AM SO EXCITED lol
It’s a perfect cover and title!
Seems like instead of revising the content as per the BM, Harry’s been spending his time recording the audio! Frustrating to wait, but smart to make the announcement now that the RF and henchmen have given it so much publicity. Coming out in multiple languages…
Oh my! The audio! Icing on the cake! Speak your truth, Harry. I’m listening.
Everything gets twisted and weaponised now, especially with Twitter. I think perhaps that is what they’re more worried about. What might he say which could become exaggerated, blown out of proportion and twisted to fit various narratives.
We’ve seen that.a lot with the Sussex’s. People take a line and run with it, turning it into something else entirely.
I cannot wait THAT long. I wanted it for the Xmas shopping rush. However, the title is genius. I feel his hurt from being considered extraneous his whole life.
Harry is taking his power back with that title. They called him that his whole life, both in the family and media. Now they’re mad he flipped the script on them. It serves them ALL right.
This!
Also taking back one holiday he can spend with his family as so many of the birthdays have been co-opted by royal nonsense. He and Meghan can have a quiet Christmas season with the little ones before the royal explosion that will happen in Jan. This release date will absolutely RUIN Kate’s birthday.
Poor Kate, LOL. I didn’t even think about that. No multi-week birthday extravaganza this year.
Kate can wear a silver dress and hit piano chords to try to get attention and have a few more portraits commissioned to try to get some attention lol
Wait, it’s Kates birthday again? What happened to the big combo 40th party that Harry was not invited to? What, did it turn out nobody else would go or did the queen laugh and say tough luck it’s my jubilee?
@harper @becks1 well the derangers were INSISTENT on how Archie’s birthday is Irrelvent in the context of Charles’ coronation, using their logic then, similarly, K’s birthday is irrelevant regarding this release date
But “spare” is a British idiom, too, isn’t it? Like to be really angry and upset?
Yes it is, as in “he went absolutely spare when he heard … ”
I’ve already put in my order on Amazon, and I look forward to hearing preorder numbers are blowing everything out of the water.
And golly, that cover and title, well done Harry
Yes like if something’s driving you nuts, it’s driving you ‘spare’!
Thanks, all. “Spare” is so interesting, with so many definitions than can fit Harry’s story. I’ve also put in my order!
Spare as extraneous to requirements; Spare as in case the original’s a dud; Spare? as in but I’m actually better than the original;
Spare as in I’m so angry about what you did to my mum; Spare as in you bullied and harrased my wife; Spare as in you called my kids what? Can’t wait
@Mymoon – lol, “Spare” as in “spare me your whining…”
I didn’t know this. Kind of answers my question above. Thanks! Interesting!
The spare is the spear of truth written by a warrior.
I lost my mind when I saw what the title is. It’s just perfect and I LOVE that he went there.
yikes that title. he’s def not going to be holding back huh? well, interested to see how this plays out. while i think he can write whatever he wants, they do make a point that if it’s not juicy enough it won’t sell, if it’s too eye-opening will cause further rift with family. delicate situation.
It’s going to sell no matter what. Finding Freedom wasn’t that juicy and it was an international best seller.
That maybe your wish but it’s going sell.
@amybee “maybe” not presume anything? this book will for sure because everyone wants to know, but it’s a multi-book deal, depends on the contents of this one that determines the sales of the others. i think that’s the point they’re making?
I’m going to create some buzz amongst my family and friends.
Most used to be pretty disinterested in the British Royal Family, but after I talked about all the good things M&H do + the mistreatment they received, they are getting more into them.
Most can read good enough English to read in the original version, but I’m pretty sure it will be translated too.
@Flowerlake – check the book’s website periodically (princeharrymemoir.com). It’s supposed to be published in 16 languages eventually.
Thanks, Windyriver 🙂
My language will be one of the ones it will be translated into. It says so at the bottom of the page. Some of my older relatives speak English and can still probably read a book in English, but it’s more intense and less comfortable for them.
As for the English version: even though I don’t see my country as a preorder option yet, I think it will probably be available in English bookstores from day 1 (as usual with big releases).
@Flowerlake – can’t remember where but believe I saw something saying it will be published in all languages at the same time. So keep checking, it’s early days yet. If this is true, a pre-order for the version you want will likely appear.
Thanks Windyriver!
I will buy the book in English, but it will be nice to read it at the same time my aunt 🙂
Will pay attention.
The title is perfection.
It’s available for pre-order on multiple sites in seven different countries right now, via the website for the book. Somehow I don’t think the publisher is worried about sales.
With this much lead time to pre-order, it doesn’t really matter how juicy it is, it’s going to rack up a TON of pre-orders before anyone has seen anything of the contents. And the title choice is definitely provocative so I’m pretty sure that will drive pre-sales further.
And with the continued bitching and moaning from the the RF and BM, there’ll be non-stop buzz until Jan 10 – more free marketing!
The book will be a best seller. The rift has been well documented . The royal family in the UK is standing on a slippery slope. A King who married his adulterer after marrying a young virgin. Selling access to the monarchy by their king and family members. These folks have been dancing with the devil for a long time. If Harry can hasten their decent I am here for it. Ordering this book in all formats available and recommending it to friends and family.
Perfect title “Spare.” When your entire youth was designed to make you feel less than, imagine the psychological damage this has on you. Happy this young man is taking his power back.
Right now it’s #2 on Amazon’s Best Seller List. It was at #7 about an hour ago. This is going to be HUGE.
It’s now No. 1 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. I’m in California.
Piffle. Contrary to what the tabs spew out, Harry isn’t looking to publish a salacious tell-ale. Nor is he worried about ‘causing’ or ‘mending’ any ‘rift’ in the family. That’s not his job. As for the title & the cover, perfection! Hello, gorgeous!
Youre so right. Its the pirates-with-press-passes who are worried about what H will say in his memoir. And, as usual, theyre using the BRF as cover.
Despite their shidtty nature and character, the BRFamily will not be deliberately harmed by Harry. HOWEVER! if, in the straightforward telling of his own life story, including what happened to him/how he felt/how he was treated, the Family or certain family members come out looking like a POS, that wont be Harry’s fault.
“…… raw, unflinching honesty,” is how SPARE is described in the blurb to the book. If in speaking his truth his family members come out looking like the lying hypocritical POS we’ve always believed them to be, thats just collateral damage.
BS that it has to be juicy is from the trash media. This will be a best seller no matter what. I think Harry is very clear on what is HIS story and what is not. I don’t expect gossip, but I do think he will share whatever happened/affected him personally.
I’m not sure it has to be “juicy” at all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Neither Harry nor the publisher made any suggestions this would be a tell all or tea laden book. Just finding out about Harry in his own words is the draw.
That said, I totally thought the Oprah interview would be unremarkable. Meghan’s story was gripping and then Harry came striding out like Mariano Rivera with Sandman blaring!
However you slice it this book is going to be winner.
Love 👏🏼 The 👏🏼 Title 👏🏼 So 👏🏼 Much 👏🏼
I can’t wait to listen to this book. It’s going to be amazing.
Did he sign a 3 book deal with them? For some reason I feel like he did?
I love the title. Let the meltdown begin. Lol
the first comment I saw on twitter under this announcement was, but he’s not the spare anymore, there are two more ahead of (i.e. charlotte and Louis as the new spares.) I mean……that’s the attack plan? lol.
They need to explain why some of them still refer to Andrew as a “spare” still then.
I would not say it was self Imposed. Exile.The royal family turned down their doing part time work and Charles and William behaved horribly as well as kate
He grew up as the spare. Imagine he even saw himself as the spare. What must that do to a person’s identity? Guess we’ll find out in his book. Just sad it will be January.
The person who twitted that is a moron.
Prince Harry “SPARE,” “I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story – the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think,” he added. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful.”
My order is in! I can’t wait to read Prince Harry’s account of his life. Prince Harry is standing in his truth.
The comprehension skills on that island is reflective of the quality of writing that comes out from there. Imagine trying to pick apart the tile of a book when you have used this word this man’s entire life to describe him. “Spare” for me explains how this young man was bought up to feel less than. Pretty sure his book will tackle how he redefined himself and discovered his worth.
I swear, l think these people are willfully stupid.
Wow. “SPARE.” Burn it all down, indeed….
Right?!! “Remarkably personal” from the publisher also has my eyebrows up- go off Harry.
“Spare” – (making dolphin noises) – and not just the title, but the cover photo. Not a glam shot in an expensive suit or all casually romantic in a California landscape, but like a battle-hardened veteran.
That’s the same instant impression I got too about the cover photo — Harry daring them to come at him. Resilient, victorious. I admire him so much.
I find it telling that the word SPARE is imprinted on his neck like a choke hold.
Yes, even the font is spare. No curlicues, no elaborate print, just a basic standard (Helvetica maybe?) font. A real punch to the gut.
Love the title. I look forward to the book
The cover gave me chills!
There’s something very telling about it being by Prince Harry…and not Duke of Sussex
Exactly. The haters keep demanding that his titles be taken away, but they keep ignoring the fact that he was born a blood prince of House Windsor. He will always be a prince, no matter what anyone else says. That title is his by birth, forever. Let ‘em keep demanding the titles be rescinded – he knows exactly who he is, and always will be.
Wow!!!! The closeup pic of Harry on the pcinceharrymemoir page. That is a MAN!
In the about the author section, he is “husband, father, …” Clear where his priorities are.
And the book’s also published in 15 non-English languages. You go, Harry!
Enough languages to cover all the Commonwealth Countries…LOL. BYEEEEEEEE RF!
@nutella toast: your comment gave me such a cackle of glee! You’re right; it’ll be able to be read in allllll those countries. They will get every drop of the info, translated so that full comprehension of the story is possible.
My glee about this knows no bounds.
I preordered my copy on Bookshop. If y’all can, order it there so funds can support indie bookstores!
I think the photo is great too. He has a handsome and elegant neck (I know I’m weird) and beautiful masculine wrists.
Harry is so effortlessly manly. Strong yet tender. So glad that he found a different path with a happy family.
This title shows that Harry is not here to play around, let´s see if the RF can keep themselves from fucking around!
The title is perfect, the rota & BRF are probably 💩 their knickers about now. I have already preordered the digital, hard cover and audible version of his memoir. I read that Prince Harry is narrating the audio book himself, I can’t wait. He is also making large donations to his UK charities Well Child and Sentebale from the book which is amazing, very inspiring and unlike the working royals. Wonder how long it will take to hit best sellers lists worldwide? (It is being released in 16 different languages which I personally have never heard of 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼)
I am seriously thinking in pre ordering now that you said he is donating some of the proceeds…
@Cessily Finding Freedom was ultimately released in more than a dozen languages. Obviously Penguin believes the market is there.
@windyriver I did not realize that, I think there is a huge market for it. I got Finding Freedom as a gift not to long ago and it wasn’t a book I was interested in enough to preorder, I know it has done well. I have read Finding Freedom I have mixed feelings on it. Although I am loving Scobies articles with yahoo on Wednesdays. I try to stay away from Royal biographies since most are written by the rota and should be classified as fiction.
What a shitty and smarmy article.
It’s perfect.
I meant the book title is perfect, not the article, sorry.
LOL. I love it!
And that photo….
What a MAN…..
THAT.PHOTO.
I love it, the title and photo are perfect.
The thing about that photo, with PRINCE HARRY right above, is that this is what a modern prince looks like.
Word, Eurydice.
Dang that title y’all! Talk about throwing a spear. I was hoping for a pre Christmas release too BUT this could make sense. Build anticipation after The Crown and when there is that after the holidays lull. People get lots of gift cards to spend after Christmas too, lol. I hate that the NYT is quoting scum like Valentine Low. If Harry was losing any sleep over the stupid “rift” he wouldn’t have bothered to write this book.
The title!
Can’t wait for it 😀
I think the Crown will create even more interest and will also make more people realize how messed up things are in that family (of those who usually don’t pay as much attention).
Awwwww SHIT!!! LET’S GO!! I just pre-ordered!!!
Although I’m super bummed it won’t be out in time for Christmas. I have that week off and I wanted to use it reading it.
LOVE the title! Harry is going IN!!
I don’t think his goal has to do with his family. More likely he is taking HIS story back from the so-called “experts” who constantly write about him. And, at the same time, supporting his family and charities by making money. If what all these RR’s have written over the years is the truth, how would PH writing about his life be so disastrous for his family? They are still going with the premise that it’s okay to tell anything and everything about PH’s life as long as the others come out looking good because he’s just one of the “spares”.
No mention made in article of Charles telling Harry not to bring Meghan when news of the queen dying and Harry not allowed to go with family members on that flight and kates ugly behavior to Meghan on the walkabout
Love that title! The British media is probably sh*tying themselves and pulling out their hair as we speak (meanwhile, Charles and Willileaks are probabaybanging their heads against the wall) cuz they’ve lost all their credibility (not that they had much to begin with) and revenue stream. I hope Harry rips them to shreds!! Also lololol the release date! Now we’ll be getting two months “w and K have lost the willingness to be keen because Harry’s thrown them under the bus (the children are already there you see ) and how dare he pick this date!” 😂
Charles and William right now: 🤬🤯
Ooooooo! I have maintained that it’s not going to be the tea spill people want it to be but with a title like that… maybe it just might.
No comment on the NYTimes article as half of it seems to be just things from the Fail who are hardly a good source.
I thought that too before their Oprah interview, and them just telling their story was jaw dropping for the whole 2 hours. It was great. RF are still whining about it 3 years later lol
That title is 🔥🔥🔥. It’s perfection. I pre-ordered within five minutes of realizing I could. An an audiobook read by PH? Lord have mercy.
Well damn Prince Harry! Brilliant title! As usual, the NYT is such a disappointment.
You can tell they are trying to brace themselves by all of the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Between Archetypes, The Crown and now Harry’s memoir, the RRs are going to have a hard time keeping up and like the RF, will lose much sleep, and likely part of their sanity. After all, the hit pieces aren’t going to write themselves and the palaces have to schedule time to scheme and scream…
Damn. That title tho. Perfect.
Between this and the Crown, it’s going to be a fun couple of months.
Ohhhh I can’t wait!! I figured the NYT got the date right but all the references to DFail and Valentine were disappointing.
Their story doesn’t make sense when the book was most likely complete before the Queen died. At least they talked about the racism, mental health and neglect Harry and Meghan mentioned without completing avoiding it.
I can also understand any nervousness Harry might have in sharing his story like this to the world. It’s his baby and if it were me I would hope people appreciate and understand if I wrote a memoir.
Also not looking forward to 2 months of relentless complaining and explaining from the rota and royals. It’s gonna be a mess and perfect distraction from the insanity that is the government
currently.
The BM is gonna milk it for all it’s worth. Ultimately that’s only good for sales so I guess I’ll look at the bright side.
PREORDERING NOWWW!
Wouldn’t it be delightful if Harry and Meghan come to New York and give interviews to everyone *but* the NYT (and obv the Murdoch owned Post)?
I never believed Harry has been rewriting. He worked out the outline knowing the queen was of an age where it was likely she would have passed before release so that was taken into account. Looking forward to reading it.
Cant wait to pre-order the audiobook! So glad he’s reading it!
Edit: looks like it’s already up for pre-order! Usually i’m picky with my credits but i’m spending one here!
@S808, I used to be very picky with my credits too, until I realized one day that Audible allows you to return books — even if you’ve already read them! — as long as you return them within a year of whenever you bought them. I don’t understand how this makes sense as a business plan, but I don’t feel guilty about all of my returns because Bezos can handle it, lol.
Wait, seriously??! How, Lorelei?
A better question is where do I go on the Audible site to return books? There are some books that are so terrible even I can’t finish them, but I thought I was stuck.
Well, I was definitely in the camp of “this book will be a memoir with very little scandalous tea”, but with the new title and cover photo…who knows????
I just wanted to say I’m happy Harry isn’t giving ALL of the profits to charity. He’s got a family to protect. This will have Archie and Lili’s college funds sorted.
I’m so with you on this @Snuffles. I’m puzzled at why some people expect Prince Harry and Meghan to give away their hard earned income.
@Petra if they are supporters no clue. But for others it’s another way to keep them servile. They know that financial stability allows for more freedom, and the more money they have the less beholden they are to the Royal Family. And if they aren’t beholden to them, they aren’t easy pickings for royal “experts” to use to monetize themselves.
I can’t imagine what his tax situation is like–isn’t he paying double taxes (US & UK)? He said in the Oprah interview that he wanted to be able to provide security to his family to keep them safe. He’s done that and more. I love that for him.
I tend to think that people think they should give away all of their money, because it’s just another “reason” to hate them. The haters will never be happy.
Seriously? Because Harry’s kids are in grave danger of lacking money or connections to go to just about any college they choose?
Tessa, well if they give all of their money away, how are they to pay for college? I think some of the derangers would like to see them on street corners begging. Oh, I know. They want them on government programs, so that they will mimic the brf. That must be it.
I am so flippin’ excited!! I have been poised for months to pre-order as soon as I could! Already placed my order through bookshop.org. The title and cover are just AMAZING. I love that he’s writing as Prince Harry. Not Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Not Harry Mountbatten- Windsor. Not Harry Wales. Just, Prince Harry. They can whine about titles all they want, they can never take his birthright away from him!
Every human being deserves to live his truth.
Oh my god, ‘Spare’! I know it’s gonna be good!
The NY Times can go f- itself, frankly.
The royalists are upset about the title. LOL
Aw, are their feelings hurt?! Wasn’t it the Royals or the upper classes that came up with that disgusting phrase anyway, ‘the heir and the spare’? They can suck it up now!!
And yet they are the ones getting that secret life snobbish thrill every time they utter the words “minor royal.”
They’ve called him the “spare” since Diana was pregnant with him. If anyone OWNS the word “Spare”, it’s Harry.
The trashloids like to make us think that Harry was going around wringing his hands and biting his nails about what to publish. Uh, I don’t think so, not with that title. Lol!
Finally, his story in his own words. And I am so happy that his book will hit the shelves in The Netherlands on the same date and 1 day before Katies birthday, what a wonderful gift. The press will be moaning and whining from now untill at least 3 months after the publication. Keeping his book in the public interest. I predict his book, will be a top 3 in sales, if not no 1.
Got my pre-order in! I bet there’s been a ton sold already today 😁 I imagine Harry will do some interviews Stateside. I wonder who would be a good ‘fit’ for him as an interviewer? Any thoughts? Oprah again?
How many words are needed to enrage an entire nation…
Narrator- he just needed one.
#spare
You know BP and the rota are calling in every favor to get an advance copy of Spare to tear it apart to soften impact.
Based on the title and premise there will def be parts that will make the RF squirm – will be interesting if the spills new tea.
After how he and Meghan were treated esp at QE2’s funeral and the Jubilee celebrations I would not be surprised if he goes scorched earth not just on the family but the British media. The BRF are not the only ones bricking it over what Harry might have to say. Harry knows things that are not in the public domain, things that could cause a lot of problems for certain individuals in the media. This book will have been thoroughly reviewed by a team of lawyers.
SPARE. Love the title. They have been calling him that his whole life, he may as well own it. Love the picture, he’s not smiling, he means business. I think it sets the tone for the book.
I was hoping to have it to read over the Christmas break, but January 10 is fine with me.
“Is his goal to enhance his celebrity with a certain sector of the public, or is it to repair the rift with his family?”
This is a classic abuser tactic. Either he wants to enhance his celebrity OR he wants to mend the rift with his family. There’s no space for any other options. Therefore, if/when Harry calls someone out, it’s because he’s a famewh*re, not because the other person’s behavior was wrong.
That sentence was *disgusting*
PRE-ORDERED. I’ve never been more stoked to throw my coins at a pre-order in my life. I am ready! I had the hardest time finding it on Amazon but got there eventually.
me too!
Why does this NYT article read like a royal rota article in the Daily Mail? Goes to show just who gave the Times the scoop. All the sources quoted are British.
The hard cover is discounted on B&N website. About $10 less that Amazon, but shipping fees may apply.
We need some kind of Celebitchy book club for this!
+1
I hope that the Financial Times cover this, especially if there is another story behind it in terms of power and finance.
They also wrote tastefully about consumption, quite a feat.
Can’t wait for it to come out. I’d pre-order but at my age, that’s risky. Ill just get it when its out. (Kindle version)
“self imposed exile”
WTAF? Grown ass adults move away from family every day. It’s not an exile of any kind. He just moved away.
As for not being in touch with his family, whose fault is that Chuckles and Dull?
As for the title of the book…I laughed so laugh I scared my cat. Just one word and it is BRUTAL. Oscar Wilde was right: Brevity is the soul of wit.
Long live Harry Rex forever and a day.
The NYT is such a disappointment. “Spare,” however is not. That title lands like a punch in the royal gut.
I absolutely love how Harry is giving Kate the gift of . Let’s give her something to cry about for her birthday. Lollololololol. This is going to be the best late Christmas present to myself. I might be giving a copy to everyone i give presents to as a late gift . Merry Christmas, with love from The spare .
Nyt is trash. I also unsubscribed in 2016. While there are some talented journalists there, there are absolutely some terribly biased, even racist people in positions of power there.
Darn it! I love the title! cant wait to get my hands on a copy and i hope our ginger price roast them all. The RF and BM will be loosing their Gdamn minds now! hahahaha
PS: NYT is Shit!
Dayum!! Am going to order it STAT! The title is perfect — Spare as in “heir and spare” and Spare as “getting angry”. Maybe he is going to burn down some stuff and not fluff over it. Revenge is a dish best served cold comes to mind.
YES!!! That’s exactly what I thought! “Spare,” as in “heir and spare,” and as in “go spare,” Brit slang for to get angry (American versions: “go off the deep end,” “go postal,” etc.). I’m seriously thinking he’s going to drop some major truth bombs. If I were Chucky Boy or Queen Side Piece, I’d be panicking. Wish I could watch …
As a New Yorker, I was always aware that the NYT was a mouthpiece for the captains of industry, business tycoons, political giants and the super wealthy. At one time, the paper may have been considered somewhat pseudo progressive, but the NYT beat the war drums for the Iraq War, gave Trump plenty of cover and has shown itself to be gatekeeper and champion of White Supremacy. So it’s no surprise that when it comes to H&M, they echo many of the white supremacists across the pond.
As for Harry’s book, I’m off to preorder the hardcover and the audiobook. SPARE is such an inspired name!
That’s a breathtaking title. I’m looking forward to the audiobook!
Read this yesterday in the NYT and was appalled. Not because they parroted the DM party line, this is after all the NYT which has sadly turned into utter crap in recent years. But the full article harps on about how the memoir was all set to go and then —- SHOCK!!!! The Queen Died!!!! And OMG who could have seen that coming???!!! And now whatever Harry says is going to look really bad, soooo distasteful, so he had to change it all.
Honestly my jaw dropped reading it. I wanted to shout “The woman was 94 or 95 when Harry STARTED writing!” How does releasing it 4 months before or 4 months after her death change anything about the appropriateness of whatever he says? When does the statute of limitations on “disrespecting the oh-so-surprisingly deceased Queen” expire? It’s just so insulting to the reader.
Besides which, you cannot disrespect a dead person. The dead know not any thing, and their love, hatred, and envy is perished and they no longer have a portion for anything that is done under the sun. I mean, if the monarch is the head of church, surely they understand that?
The cover picture. Contrast it to ToB on the cover which labeled him ToB. Willyhead looked like a dictator. Haz looks like a snack.
That TOB cover made me start calling him Will-di Amin. Harry’s book could have a positive effect on Charlotte and Louis. The ratchets might just hold off on calling those children “the spares” from this point forward. I’ll bet that Harry has thought about the lives of his neice and nephews, and wants to protect them from the life experiences that he had. I hope those children won’t be thought of as spares, or extraneous, and that they will allowed to be the authors of their own lives, a right that Harry was denied.
This! When is the last time we saw William looking directly at anybody–camera or otherwise? Even with the famous TOB photo, his head and neck are slightly tilted away. Man. There’s so much to unpack with all of this. I bet this ruined W&K’s little vacation, that’s for sure.
I already pre ordered mine
Spare! Crying.
My guess is there is/are illegitimate kid(s) in the family, whether from Charles, or William, or Philip, etc. Because the only thing these people care about are themselves, and what *they* are entitled to. If there is someone out there who might be “entitled” to get something from the royal family, or who could raise the issue of whether certain titles or privileges should go to any child — or even worse, any FIRST BORN child — even if it’s out of wedlock, that would send them all into a panic. Because we’ve seen that the public doesn’t care about mere affairs, or grifting, or racism, etc., so the actual institution is safe. But the current royals’ place within that institution might not be, and that’s what they are worried about imho.
I honestly think this is what might be. In 2022/23, the idea of an “illegitimate child” is kind of gross, right? The idea of the child of a king or a future king growing up with significantly less privileges than their siblings just because the parents weren’t married…..that’s gross. That’s going to play very differently now than it might have a hundred years ago.
And if its Charles who has that child out of wedlock, that is going to ruin his rehabilitation, right? and if its William…….that’s a problem. That’s a big problem, especially if that child was born between 2010ish and 2013. (i.e. around the time he and Kate were engaged until George was born, because that it destroys the “happy marriage” PR thing they’ve got going on, and there would be a succession crisis.)
To me that’s the only thing that I can see being a threat to the Firm in 2022/3, a threat so big that it could pose real, serious damage to the royals.
I doubt that info will come from Harry, tho. Thats not about his life; and his memoir is about HIS life – not anyone else’s (what happened to him/how he felt/how he acted and/or reacted/what he’s learnt/etc.)
Ive noticed that H&M are very circumspect when it comes telling THEIR story vs other people’s story.
I forgot which episode of Archetype (perhaps it was Diva with Mariah) where M said: “Look, this is not my story to tell, its yours, but I remember…….”
And she’s said this or words to the effect on more than one episode.
They are worried about something huge, and I think a child by Charles, Philip or William might be it. But I agree, it’s doubtful Harry would write about that.
Isn’t there an older gentleman in Australia or New Zealand who says he is the illegitimate son of Charles and Camilla? I must Google it and see if I can find some thing but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a picture of him with an accompanying article about how he has been trying to prove it for years. He certainly looked like Charles and Philip in the picture. Does anybody know about this, especially CB folks in those countries?
I notice that the “publishing insiders” who said it wasn’t possible for the memoir to be published are surprisingly quiet. And none of the “He’s delaying/canceling it” crowd are commenting.
Wow. Can’t wait. Will pre-order. Lainey had a very thoughtful piece about the meaning of the title “Spare.” Worth reading (and the book for SURE).
I liked her piece until I got to the last two paragraphs, where she talked about how it was delayed by two months and was supposed to come out around the Crown premiere date. Um, no, it wasn’t. The most we heard was “late 2022” and there was speculation it would come out in November, but that was never confirmed. I’m just annoyed that people are going with the theory that it was pushed back for rewrites, bc so many take Lainey at face value.
I’m sure the title’s meaning will be clearer when we can read it. Until then, just a couple of thoughts — my very first impression of the word “spare” was in “spare tire,” something not really needed at the moment, expendable, “less than” your regular tires. Second, there could some trademark or intellectual property issues that prevent use of “the” (i.e., “The Spare” could be property owed by someone else).
You’re right, Mrs. Krabapple. The Spare is already a published literary work by Miranda Dubner.
As a general rule, book titles are not really copyrightable.
1. Title is brilliant.
2. I sincerely hope most of the reporting (ie, release-date delayed; punches pulled, following queen’s death) is wrong.
Just pre-ordered it online. Can’t believe he titled it, “Spare!” Oh, I cannot wait to read it!
I am screaming at the title. Go go Harry go! I ordered both hardback and kindle to do my bit.
Just pre-ordered. The book is on sale now. Great photo of Harry on cover. I’m so glad to be able to look forward to this book in January. Things looks so bleak now all over the world.
Hopefully the after-Holidays release will be irrelevant, seeing how many people are already preordering it! I can’t wait!
I just preordered my audible version. Also special thanks to all of the really helpful comments on the NYT. I think I will need to part ways too. I contribute/subscribe to Guardian too so it will work.
For those considering giving up NYT cooking , I am considering the same and will likely return to America Test Kitchen.
Peace out
Ordered the hardcover (‘cos I’m sure there’ll be pix); as well as the audio version (‘cos I wanna listen to H to my heart’s content, just as I did with M’s book.)
Anyhoooo, I’m dying to see the dedication page(s). There will DEFINITELY be one for M, which may or may not include the kids – perhaps theyll get their own dedication page; and of course, a dedication page for his mother.
Dying! to read what he’ll say in his dedication.
Dropping Spare after the Crown finishes its season is brilliant. Season 5 should end Jan 4 and Harry’s memoir comes out six days later. Everyone will look to Harry to validate what is in the series. He had a front row seat to the War of the Waleses. This will get interesting.
The best thing about Harry’s book is that the stories written by the likes of Wooten, Becky English, C-word, Cameltoe etc will dry up. There’s no need for a “Royal Expert” to be saying what (they think) Harry thinks as it’s already in print. Of course if they still do try to publish their so called expert claims on what Harry did or said? Then “Hello, meet my lawyer”
That TITLE………..Boom!!!! chakalaka Boom! Smokin’ hot…TAKE MY MONEY PULEEEEEAAASSSEEE.!!!!!
Already #1 seller on Amazon. Out of all books, not Just memoir or non-fiction.
Cue the “amazon sales figures are inflated” stories by the Rota.
My library got notified by our vendor and immediately pre-ordered many copies lol
I’ve preordered the audiobook via Apple iTunes. I can’t wait to hear Harry tell his story
Much less expensive than ordering the audiobook via Amazon.
The title is brilliant and the incredible pre-sales (as indicated on amazon and amazon.uk on the first day of release) is such a show of strength; confidence that the book wouldn’t/won’t need any holiday sales boost. I do sort of wonder if a (possible) delay of release by a few weeks could have been both to make minor revisions around very tense (and possibly more we’ll see in Jan!) AND a bit of final respect to the death of the queen.
The queen herself declared 16 weeks of mourning when her own father, George VI passed, and this book is being released at around 17 weeks after Eliz II’s own passing, so similar timing. Not to say that the publishers and Prince Harry were quite that formalistic about it, counting exact weeks, but may not have wanted to seem too eager, it will be the first Christmas without the queen that most in the UK will remember, with her annual speech on Christmas Day etc., they may have just wanted to wait and avoid the look of now-King Charles likely giving his first Christmas speech while PH’s book tucked under all the Christmas trees, just invites (even more) negativity and controversy in the holiday season.
Delaying until after Christmas makes the Prince and publishers above reproach on that score (and clearly book is going to be a blockbuster anyway).
This is a good observation, and sounds in line of the way Harry might want to approach the book’s release. He’s not “overshadowing” anyone, more than enough time will have passed since the queen’s death, and let’s face it, this book is going to S-E-L-L and be one of the biggest blockbuster books to be released in recent years. It’s already sold out on Amazon preorder in less than a day. They don’t need the holiday season to push sales up.
Some context: the literary agent isn’t random. Matt Latimer was formerly George W. Bush’s speechwriter and worked for Donald Rumsfield. He now specializes in repping conservative politicians, including Ted Cruz and Kellyanne Conway. Latimer is extremely well-connected and an excellent self-promoter, so he often gets quoted in publishing articles, but he has an obvious political point of view.
There are so many better, smarter, more appropriate publishing people the NYT could have talked to, ones who might actually have more interesting things to say.
Thanks for this. You make a very good point and the NYT is trash!
I heard someone on tv today mention-how awful to be called a spare like an extra tire in your car trunk-to grow up in that asylum where everybody looks at you just as a spare with no understanding that he is a human being with thoughts, feelings, ideas, and 5 senses-but he is not important enough to harness his sensibilities because he was born second-like a second class citizen in his own family-only the first borns get all the attention, all the riches, and all the love-no say so about your interests and what you want-no consideration of your thoughts about anything-no wonder his mother gave him a little more attention and love because she saw what kind of life he would have being placed in the shadows.-God bless Harry, wife, and his children.
I just ordered three hard copies. I don’t usually buy books new so I don’t feel too profligate about it. It’s for a good cause, and it’s going to be a good read! I’ll keep one, give one to my mother, and put one in the the free library box in the park near my house. I think there might be one too many Middleton fans in my neighborhood. Let them see that cover and they’ll cave fast, then read it and change their tune……
My husband read me the news about the title when we walked into the house from dinner. He said he wants the audio book. No problem! I’ll get it for him. And Harry is reading it? He has an amazing voice. This is going to be good.
Screw that NYT reporter. It makes me sick that the “Gray Lady,” the respected newspaper of my childhood and young adulthood, has turned into a What-Abouter-Ist, Forelock-Tugging piece of trash (not all of it, but too much, too much).
“Spare” is the best name. It’s perfect.
Pre-Order Sales are already high in the UK and USA. Seems our trash papers are so incensed that it is released on Catherine’s birthday! Did not even know that was her birthday and it seems ok for a Coronation on Archie’s big day because we should not think it is all about the Sussexes! Love the publicity the Media and Royals are giving this book and look forward to the book tour in NZ when they go for their environmental work. Perhaps they will pop over to Murdoch Australia and see how many people there love them more than the Biased TV coverage .
Thank god they escaped this mess in the UK as the smear campaign would have targetted them more to take away anger againgst the Monarchy and Politicians.
Have phoned a local bookshop and pre-ordered 2 hardback copies! I’m more than happy to contribute toward the blockbuster sales of Harry’s book….!