The following day, Beaufort Books announced plans to publish the novel in America, signing Jones to a contract with a smaller advance but higher royalties.
SHERRY JONES ANIMIX FREE
On September 4, 2008, British publishing house Gibson Square announced that it would publish The Jewel of Medina in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, with founder Martin Rynja calling for "open access to literary works, regardless of fear." Alvaro Vargas Llosa praised the firm's "willing to run the risk of not letting the threat of violence inhibit free expression." It remained the number-one bestseller in that nation for at least two months. After strong reactions from the Serbian Muslim community, Serbian publisher Beobook withdrew it from stores but returned it to shelves shortly thereafter to forestall widespread piracy. The Jewel of Medina was published in Serbia in August 2008. The cover of the Serbian edition, the first official edition of the book. For her part, Jones insisted that she had approached her topic "respectfully," envisioning the novel as "a bridge builder." Publication Stanley Fish disagreed with the characterisation of censorship, arguing that as a nongovernmental entity, Random House had simply made "a minor business decision" and that no free-speech concerns were implicated. Salman Rushdie derided the decision as "censorship by fear." Andrew Franklin of Profile Books labeled it "absolutely shocking" and branded Random House editors as "cowards." Bill Poser decried what he perceived to be suppression of speech deemed potentially offensive "out of fear of violence by religious fanatics." Geoffrey Robertson argued that the publisher should pay Jones "substantial compensation" and recommended that the book be placed on a website "so everyone can read it." Spellberg said that she did "not espouse censorship of any kind" and that she had "used scholarly expertise to assess the novel." Carlin Romano argued that Spellberg's "aggressive act" was tantamount to advocacy of censorship. Adam Kirsch criticized Spellberg and Random House for depriving Muslims of the freedom to reimagine their religious tradition through the eyes of a novelist. Irshad Manji wrote in The Globe and Mail that preemptive censorship was offensive to Muslims. The Washington Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Las Vegas Review-Journal printed editorials critical of the cancellation.
Random House responded by canceling the publication run.
She reportedly described the book as "incredibly offensive" and a "very ugly, stupid piece of work," suggesting that its "explosive" content could inspire violence among radical Islamic groups and thereby represent a threat to national security. Prior to publication, the Random House publicity department solicited comment from Denise Spellberg, professor of history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas. Sherry Jones in Århus, Denmark, 15 March 2009 The novel was to be featured by the Book of the Month Club and the Quality Paperback Book Club. Random House signed Sherry Jones to a two-book contract in 2007, offering her an advance of one hundred thousand dollars, with The Jewel of Medina scheduled to be released on August 12, 2008. Domestic and international publication rights were subsequently picked up by other publishing houses. Īlthough the novel was originally scheduled for release in 2008, the publication run was canceled by Random House due to concerns about possibly inflammatory content. The Jewel of Medina is a historical novel by Sherry Jones that recounts the life of Aisha, one of Muhammad's wives, from the age of six, when she was betrothed to Muhammad, to her death. Cover for the planned Ballantine release of The Jewel of Medina
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