Weidenfeld & Nicolson wins ‘fierce’ eight-way auction for Nussaibah Younis’ dark comedy Fundamentally

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has triumphed in a “fierce” eight-way auction for Nussaibah Younis’ dark comedy Fundamentally.

Publishing director Juliet Annan bought UK and Commonwealth rights in a two-book deal from Florence Rees at A M Heath. Fundamentally is described as “a voice-driven, deeply original, properly funny debut novel about rescuing ISIS brides”. It will publish as a lead fiction title in March 2025.

“When heartbroken academic Nadia finds herself working for the UN in Iraq, she is tasked with a seemingly impossible job: de-radicalising ISIS brides,” the synpopsis says. “There she meets Sara, a young ISIS bride from London, whose story resembles her own, and an intense friendship develops. Determined to rescue Sara, things take a turn for the dramatic, and Nadia is forced to reckon with the dilemma: can you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?”

Annan said: “This is a thoughtful novel about international politics, war and fundamentalism, but it’s also a warm-hearted novel about self-delusion, growing up, mothers and daughters, sexual politics, and race – very human subjects that affect us all. It’s a must-read, a deadly serious, controversial book – but also a book that will make you laugh out loud.”

Younis added: “It is an absolute honour to be acquired by Juliet Annan. Not only is she a legendary, distinguished editor but she delights in my vile sense of humour and celebrates my boundary-pushing material. The entire team at W&N are a total wonder, and I’m excited to torment them throughout this two-book deal. Writing Fundamentally was a hell of risk, setting aside my sober career to satirise the opaque world of international aid, and to explore the ISIS brides controversy with heart, complexity and outrageous humour. W&N have made that risk worthwhile.”

The US rights to Fundamentally sold in a four-way auction to Lashanda Anakwah at Tiny Reparations, PRH USA, brokered by Allison Malecha of Trellis Literary Management on behalf of A M Heath. The TV rights were sold in a 10-way auction to Boffola Pictures by Emma Obank at Casarotto on behalf of A M Heath. Russian language rights are under offer from Inspiria/Eksmo who plan to publish as part of their LOFT series, which “showcases the finest contemporary novels and authors”, including Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Damon Galgut and Olga Tokarczuk.

Dr Younis is a peacebuilding practitioner and a globally recognised expert on contemporary Iraq. For several years, Nussaibah advised the Iraqi government on proposed programmes to de-radicalise women affiliated with ISIS. She has a PhD in International Affairs from the University of Durham, and a BA in Modern History and English from the University of Oxford. Dr Younis was a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, where she directed the Task Force on the Future of Iraq and offered strategic advice to US government agencies on Iraq policy. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. She was born in the UK to an Iraqi father and a Pakistani mother, and had a devout Muslim upbringing, studying with Anwar al-Awlaki who later joined Al-Qaeda. She herself avoided radicalisation and is deeply empathetic towards teenage girls who were less fortunate, the publisher said.