Assange strikes $1.3 million deal for memoirs
27 Dec 2010
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has struck a $1.3 million deal for penning his memoir. He says he is writing the book to keep WikiLeaks going and for covering his legal costs.
Assange achieved global notoriety when his whistleblower web site started releasing more than a quarter of a million diplomatic cables.
The 39-year-old is fighting extradition to Sweden, where he has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women. Assange has denied the allegations.
After his release on bail earlier this month pending extradition proceedings, Assange has been living under virtual house arrest at Ellingham Hall, a Norfolk country mansion. He regularly gives media interviews from there.
Assange told the Sunday Times that he was forced to sign the deal worth more than £1 million for his autobiography due to financial difficulties.
He said he did not want to write the book but had to. He added that he had already spent £200,000 for legal costs and he also needed to defend himself to keep WikiLeaks afloat.
Assange will reportedly receive $800,000 dollars from Alfred A Knopf, his American publisher, while a British deal with Canongate has been valued at £325,000. He added that an estimated £1.1 million would be generated from the deal, including serialisation.
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