The Duke of Sussex’s controversial and insightful memoir – which has been declared the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time by its publisher – has been hard to find in US libraries as thousands of requests have been received for a limited number of books and eBooks.
Several library systems in major American cities have said customers will have to wait several months to borrow a copy of Prince Harry’s Spare.
For example, in the city of Chicago, the public library has 1,520 holds reserving the ability to borrow the book, but only 217 printed copies to borrow.
It’s even worse in Columbus, Ohio, where there are 1,789 250-copy bans.
The Duke of Sussex’s controversial and insightful memoir – which has been declared the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time by its publisher – is hard to find in US libraries
Tim Paluch, communications director for the Des Moines, Iowa Public Library, says he’s never seen anything like it.
“The interest in this one is insane. CRAZY,” he said to Axios. “We’re seeing retention and requisition numbers like few books since before COVID. Even the book on CD has 17 holds right now, which is crazy.’
The Chicago library system, as well as their counterparts in cities like Minneapolis and Denver, have ordered dozens more copies to meet demand since the book’s release.
Even eBook copies are hard to come by: Denver has placed 852 requests for 163 virtual copies of Spare, while Philadelphia has 755 requests for 50 eCopies; In Portland, Oregon, the county library has 1,057 reservations for 38 eBooks.
Elsewhere, the Hennepin County Library, which serves Minneapolis, has 1,395 shelves for 132 printed items; Indianapolis has 441 holds for just 15.
Spare blew up other recent buzz books — like Jennette McCurdy’s tell-all book I’m Glad My Mom Died and Colleen Hoover’s fiction — out of the water.
Libraries are finding it difficult to provide more supply as budgets have been cut during the pandemic.
The Chicago Public Library system, which operates the Harold Washington Library Center (pictured), has ordered dozens more copies to meet demand since the book’s release
The Minneapolis Central Public Library in Hennepin County has 1,395 shelves for 132 printed items
The Multnomah County Central Library in Portland, Oregon has 1,057 holds for 38 eBooks
The Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio 1,789 holds 250 printed copies
“People will definitely wait a little longer, but the demand for these kinds of Zeitgeist books is just so great that we don’t really have a choice,” Paluch said.
Libraries desperate to meet demand are also increasing delivery times and supply chain issues.
Licensing issues also limit the number of eBooks a library can get their hands on.
Finally, on January 10, Prince Harry’s comprehensive autobiography was published, selling a record 400,000 copies in hardcover, e-book and audio format.
The book includes claims that the Prince of Wales physically assaulted him and teased him about his panic attacks and that the King put his own interests ahead of Harry’s and was jealous of the Duchess of Sussex and Princess of Wales.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leaves The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on January 9th.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Larry Finlay, Managing Director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said, “We always knew this book would be a success, but it exceeds even our most optimistic expectations.
“As far as we know, the only books that have sold more on day one are those starring the other Harry (Potter).”
Continuing a series of high-profile promotional interviews, the Duke said he “would like nothing more” than for his children to have ties with the royal family.
His comments about his son and daughter came despite criticism he has leveled at his brother William, father Charles and stepmother Camilla.
In his first print interview about his autobiography, he told US magazine People that Archie, three, and Lili, 19, had connections with some of the Windsors, whom he didn’t name, and said it brought him “great joy”. . .
Prince Harry’s memoir Spare goes on sale at a Barnes & Noble store in Chicago, Illinois on January 10, 2023
Finally, on January 10, Prince Harry’s comprehensive autobiography was published, selling a record 400,000 copies in hardcover, e-book and audio format
He also described his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales as his “guardian angel” and said she is with him “all the time”.
In his interview with People magazine, which included a flattering photo shoot, Harry said of his book, which was mentally written by JR Moehringer: “I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it, and that includes my family. In many ways, this book and its truths are a continuation of my own mental health journey.
“It’s a rough representation of my life — the good, the bad, and everything in between.”
Harry was criticized for his revelation in Spare that he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghan war.
He has also openly admitted to using drugs his whole life, losing his virginity to an older woman in a field as a teenager and getting frostbite on his penis.