Prince Harry Becomes Fastest-Selling Non-Fiction Book Author In The UK
Public response to Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, has lived up to the initial hype surrounding the release, with the title becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the United Kingdom after just one day on the shelves.
According to Penguin Random House, in Britain alone, over 400,000 copies have been sold across hardback, e-book, and audio formats. Add in the United States and Canada, and the figure spikes to a jaw-dropping 1.43 million copies, marking the largest first-day sales for the publisher.
The tell-all managed to dwarf previous hits, such as memoirs by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. As per the New York Times, sales have been steadily building, especially when some of the book’s contents leaked and high-profile interviews aired.
Larry Finlay, Managing Director at Penguin Random House, said that while the publisher knew the book was likely to fly off the shelves, the demand for it has exceeded even its “most bullish expectations.”
The landmark publication is finally here! Full of insight, revelation, and self-examination, SPARE chronicles Prince Harry’s journey with raw honesty. The official #PrinceHarryMemoir is out today, with the audiobook read by the author. Visit https://t.co/fL1z5atYxi pic.twitter.com/gAAtD8F15u
— Penguin Random House ðŸ§ðŸ 📚 (@penguinrandom) January 10, 2023
Intriguingly, and in a bit of coincidence, Finlay posits the only other books to have sold more copies on their first days were those featuring the “other Harry”—referring to the famed Harry Potter series penned by J K Rowling.
Prince Harry’s highly-personal biography includes details on his struggles as a royal, and sheds light on his feelings during turbulent times in his life, such as when his mother, Princess Diana, passed away, and how he fell out with his father, King Charles III, and brother Prince William.
Reviews, as expected, have been a mixed bag. The Guardian said the book was a “flawed attempt to reclaim a narrative” and turned out to be “sympathetic and absurd,” while the BBC said it was “the weirdest book ever written by a royal” and resembled an “angry drunk text.”
The Independent, on the other hand, praised the memoir as “richly detailed and at times beautifully written.” Spare is now available for purchase in 16 languages, and ranks on the best-seller list on Amazon in the UK, United States, Germany, France, Italy, and more.
[via CNBC and New York Times, cover image via Penguin Random House]
