VIKING HAVE announced the acquisition of A Woman Like Me: A Memoir by Diane Abbott.

Nobody could have guessed that their bespectacled little girl would grow up to be a British Member of Parliament

Diane Abbott

The memoir will be published in hardback, ebook and audiobook, summer 2022, to mark the 35^th anniversary of Diane’s election to Parliament.

A powerful memoir that tells the story of modern Britain, from one of the UK’s most original and inspiring politicians

In June 1987: Diane Abbott made history as the first elected Black female MP in the UK.

Since then, she has survived more than three decades in parliament, campaigning tirelessly for a better future for Britain, from increasing access to education through the Black Child Initiative, to consistently voting in favour of higher disability benefits.

With her trademark frankness and humour, her memoir, A Woman Like Me, will celebrate an extraordinary life and encourage a new generation to surpass expectations, just as she has done.

In her honest and moving book, Abbott takes the reader through her incredible journey, from growing up in North London with her Jamaican parents to entering the Houses of Parliament as a bright and ambitious young politician.

In doing so, she paints a candid portrait of what it’s like to face a barrage of hostility every day, shows us how she was able to battle impostor syndrome and succeed against the odds, and empowers us with the strength to change the fabric of this country for the better.

Abbott said: “I am very excited to be working on this memoir with Viking. It is a long-awaited chance to tell my own story, in my own words.

“My parents were part of the Windrush generation.

“Nobody could have guessed that their bespectacled little girl would grow up to be a British Member of Parliament.

“This will be the story of that journey.”

Alpana Sajip said: “Diane is a titan of British public and political life, and we couldn’t be prouder to be publishing her memoir.

“She has inspired generations of Britons through her unwavering efforts, and we know that by sharing her story with the world, she will continue to do so.”

What’s Her Story this BHM?