The autobiography of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was to go on sale Thursday, September 22, despite efforts by the Australian anti-secrecy campaigner to suppress the book, its British publisher said.
The book – "Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography" – reportedly includes his first direct comments on allegations of rape in Sweden that led to the former computer hacker fighting an extradition battle in Britain.
According to the Associated Press, publisher Canongate said Wednesday it was the first draft of Assange's autobiography as delivered to them in March 2011, and that they were going ahead with publication despite Assange's attempts to prevent them.
"On 7 June 2011, with 38 publishing houses around the world committed to releasing the book, Julian told us he wanted to cancel his contract," said Canongate, a small Scottish publishing firm that beat larger rivals to sign the original deal.
"However, he had already signed his advance over to his lawyers to settle his legal bills. We have decided to honor that contract and to publish. Once the advance has been earned out, we will continue to honor the contract and pay Julian royalties."
Assange disowned the publication, saying in a press statement released Thursday: "I am not 'the writer'."
The former hacker accused Canongate of acting in breach of contract, and called the book "a narrative and literary interpretation of a conversation between the writer (ghost writer Andrew O'Hagan) and me.
"It is entirely uncorrected or fact-checked by me," he added.
Extracts from the book appeared in Thursday's edition of British newspaper The Independent.
