Sequel – The Power of Geography – has been performing well, while discussions with partners for 2022 product launches are ongoing.
Independent publisher Elliott & Thompson’s Times best selling Prisoners of Geography book franchise is continuing to engage fans of maps and facts, notching up ongoing global sales success.
The sequel, The Power of Geography was published on 22 April, debuting at number 12 in the Amazon bestseller chart. After one week of sales, the book is at number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list and number one on the equivalent list in The Times, a huge achievement for a hardback title on geopolitics.
Since Prisoners of Geography was first published in 2015, it has been the best selling book on geopolitics, boasting a 210 consecutive weekrun of selling 1,000+ copies a week (only bettered by the Official Highway Code).
Combined global book sales are 1.75m+, while it has been published in over 30 languages and, in the UK alone since 2015, sales across all editions including the Childrens’ illustrated title (since 2019) have surpassed one million.
Rights to the latter have now been acquired in the US (for autumn 2021 publication), adding North America to the 18 international rights editions sold since 2019.
When it comes to consumer products, the map images from the illustrated edition – packed with information, facts and stats – are being pitched as perfect for family-focused educational merchandise such as board and quiz games, puzzles, apps, posters, gifts and stationery.
“Extending the franchise is a natural step forward for Tim’s books,” explained Maggy Harris from BlueSkye Licensing. “Prisoners of Geography fits perfectly into the huge demand for quality factual, fun family and digital entertainment which 2020’s lockdown world has accelerated.
“We’re in meaningful discussion with partners for 2022 product launches and confirmation of the North American rights sale for the Childrens’ illustrated edition has seen increased interest from this all important market.”
Lorne Forsyth, chairman at publisher Elliott and Thompson, continued: “It has been an astonishing long lasting hit in paperback and is acknowledged as the bestselling international geo-politics book of all time, providing a gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present and future.”
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