Morrissey's autobiography is less interesting than the tale of the autobiography
So, nobody seems any clearer what the hell was going on with the supposed Morrissey autobiography that - if we believe True To You - was already boxed and ready to go when Penguin suddenly had cold feet:
Although Morrissey's Autobiography was set to be available throughout the UK on September 16th, a last-minute content disagreement between Penguin Books and Morrissey has caused the venture to collapse. No review copies were printed, and Morrissey is now in search of a new publisher.This comes as a bit of a surprise to everyone.
Obviously, a book due to be sold to the public on Monday would have been printed and ready to go; reveiwers would have had the chance to have a look and prepare timely copy. It's hard to see how any "last-minute content disagreement" could occur, given that it's a book, and printed, and those battles would be fought before the presses rolled, not after.
And shops would be expecting it; and an ISBN would have been created; and judicious selections dropped to the friendly press (assuming there is any press still friendly towards the man).
Yet here is a book, the first word of which appears to be that it isn't happening.
What's that, True To You? You have a clarification. Please, clarify matters, and explain these anomalies:
The publication of Morrissey's Autobiography remains with Penguin Books.That certainly clarifies matters in no way at all.
This is a deal for the UK and Europe, but Morrissey has no contract with a publisher for the U.S. or any other territory.
As of 13 September, Morrissey and Penguin (UK) remain determined to publish within the next few weeks.
Perhaps everyone is getting confused by JOHN Morrissey's long-awaited Local Authority Enforcement book, as that is due in the next few weeks and, apparently, has two chapters dedicated to calling Mike Joyce names.
Could the whole thing be either an elaborate hoax or a terrible misunderstanding?
Possibly. But we do, at least, know that there IS a book, as the cover has been leaked: