Sean Connery to publish views on life and Scotland

By Ian MacKenzie

EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Sean Connery, who has said he would
not live in his Scotland again until it became independent, is
writing a book about his native country mixed with
autobiographical anecdotes, his publishers said.

Canongate Books of Edinburgh said it had acquired world
English-language rights to the film star’s memoirs, “Connery’s
Scotland,” in conjunction with Polygon.

“Our goal is to produce a very readable, visually
stimulating and hopefully intriguing history of Scotland, with
personal discoveries,” Connery said in a statement.

Best known for his screen portrayal of fictional British
spy James Bond, Connery will work in collaboration with writer
and film-maker Murray Grigor.

Connery, the Edinburgh-born son of a truck driver, worked
together with Grigor on an award-winning documentary, “Sean
Connery’s Edinburgh.” The star now lives in the Bahamas.

The Herald newspaper quoted Grigor as saying: “The content
of the book is not quite all settled, and we have just been
discussing exactly what will go into it.”

Canongate said the book would be published in September
next year to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the
political union of Scotland and England in 1707.

Canongate said it would include “his unique take on the
individuals, often unrecognized, who have played their part in
Scotland’s extraordinary history.”

The 75-year-old actor, who rose from milkman and local
model to superstardom, has been a keen backer of the Scottish
National Party (SNP) which seeks Scottish independence from the
United Kingdom.

Canongate declined to say what Connery would be paid.

The Scotsman newspaper suggested two years ago, when
reporting Connery was interested in writing his memoirs, that
he could expect bids of three million pounds ($5.5 million) or
more from publishers.

Canongate publisher Jamie Byng said his firm was
“absolutely thrilled” to be publishing Connery.

“Not only is it going to be a fascinating and revelatory
book about Scotland, but Sir Sean is a natural storyteller with
his own great story to tell.

“Co-publishing with Hugh Andrew and his team at Polygon
adds another exciting dimension to what is going to be one of
the biggest publishing projects Canongate has ever been
involved in.”