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Random House to publish Tony Blair's memoirs

Last Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2007 | 5:05 PM ET

CBC News

Random House has won a bidding war to publish the memoirs of former British prime minister Tony Blair.

Random House units Hutchinson in U.K. and Alfred A. Knopf in the U.S. announced Thursday that they will publish Blair's as-yet-untitled book.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair this July in Jerusalem, at the start of his tenure as a Middle East envoy.
(Kevin Frayer/Associated Press)

"I hope my memoirs will provide a serious and thoughtful, but also entertaining, reflection on my time as a member of Parliament and as prime minister," Blair said in a statement.

Both Blair and his wife Cherie will be busy writing at the same time. She signed a deal for her own memoirs last month.

No financial terms were released for Blair's book deal, but his literary agent, Washington lawyer Robert Barnett, said the bidding had been among "the most competitive processes I've participated in in over 20 years of representing authors."

"He has a remarkable story to tell," Knopf chairman Sonny Mehta said in a statement.

"His tenure as prime minister was marked by close relationships with presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, and he enjoys a profile in this country that is rare among foreign leaders."

Blair has said he will write the book himself and publication is at least two years off.

Blair stepped down as prime minister in May and is now the Middle East envoy for the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia.

This story is now closed to commenting.

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INDEPTH: Tony Blair
Cherie Blair signs deal to write autobiography

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