FORMER BRITISH prime minister Tony Blair is expected to promote his autobiography in Ireland next month.
A Journey: My Political Lifeis out on September 1st and Mr Blair has already made headlines by agreeing to give his reported £4.6 million (€5.6 million) advance to the British Legion to help injured soldiers. It is a decision which has been met with admiration and scepticism in the UK.
The book is being published by Random House. In response to suggestions that Mr Blair would be appearing on RTÉ's The Late Late Showon Friday, September 3rd, followed by a book signing in Eason on September 4th, a Random House spokeswoman said: "All shall be revealed".
However, a publishing source in Ireland said those dates were correct, but that details were still being worked on. “With regard to publicity and how the whole thing is going to be managed, Tony Blair’s people are very much in the driving seat. It is going to be very tightly managed for obvious reasons,” the source said.
The publishers hope that Mr Blair’s involvement in the peace process will make the book a bestseller in Ireland.
Only one book signing has been confirmed to date. He will appear at Waterstone’s in Piccadilly, London, on September 8th. Anti-war protesters have said they will picket the signing.
The store has insisted that customers cannot be photographed with Blair; there will be no personal dedications; and all bags, backpacks and briefcases must be checked in, along with cameras and mobile phones. He will sign a maximum of two books per customer.
The Galway Alliance Against War said it will make an attempt to arrest Mr Blair for war crimes if he comes to Ireland.
