The Fry Chronicles, Stephen Fry's second volume of autobiography

London, UK: September 13, 2010. Penguin releases The Fry Chronicles, Stephen Fry's second volume of autobiography. This publication embraces a trio of publishing platforms, combining the traditional with the modern.

"In the year Penguin celebrates its 75th Birthday, its publication of Stephen Fry's brilliant memoir is as innovative and ground breaking as Allen Lane's original vision for the paperback revolution. Blending established elements with the radically new, we are demonstrating how a wonderful, old-fashioned hardback book can be re-imagined with the help of today's exciting new technologies to capture the imagination of hundreds and thousands of readers. I can't think of a better author to launch this kind of new publishing - -Stephen himself represents everything that we hold dear and value in Britain, yet at the same time has an extraordinary knowledge and love of cutting edge technology," 

Louise Moore, Managing Director of Michael Joseph, the Penguin UK imprint which is publishing The Fry Chronicles, said today.

Stephen Fry embarks on a traditional book signing and media tour: performing events in Oxford and Cambridge, a literary dinner in Norwich, media interviews with television and radio, and public signings at booksellers Holt Bookshop and Jarrolds.

In addition, and in response to a rapidly changing book publishing landscape, Penguin combines the excitement of a live book event with the extra reach of a national broadcasted network. Stephen appeared at the Royal Festival Hall, September 13, at 7.30 pm. The event was broadcast live by satellite to over 55 cinemas across the country, making it probably the biggest ever book event, potentially reaching over 12,000 people. This bold move indicates a possibly digitally distributed future for the traditional book tour model.

Penguin also announces two revolutionary digital products alongside the printed edition of The Fry Chronicles. The Fry Chronicles eBook and myFry App for iPhone and iPod touch are available today on the iBookstore and App Store respectively.

While The Fry Chronicles eBook is content-rich and perfect for immersive reading, the myFry app is optimized to access and view content on a small screen on-the-go.

The Fry Chronicles eBook is a content-rich and context-smart digital offering that is sure to please Stephen Fry fans everywhere.


-          Key features include; eight new videos of Stephen Fry expanding further on the anecdotes he revealed in the printed text, integrated photography throughout and links to relevant websites and web content.

-          This is the most engaging and fully immersive eBook Penguin has released in the UK so far, and fulfils the promise of an enhanced and enriched reading experience offered on current colour digital reading devices.

The myFry app is a beautiful, intuitive and innovative iPhone reading application that allows readers to use a tagged colourwheel to explore the book's content in a non-linear fashion.

-          Key features include; Instead of reading The Fry Chronicles from beginning to end, readers use a tagged colourwheel to explore the book content in a non-linear fashion: every reader will have a unique experience with the app. Find your way with a choice of four colour-coded categories; People (Hugh Laurie), Subjects (Cambridge Years, Blackadder), Feelings (self-criticism, love) and Fryisms bourgeoisified to badolescence .

-          myFry offers readers a revolutionary reading experience not possible in traditional print format.

-          This is a new and utterly original way to present an author's work through visual indexing and a perfect platform for an author who already has such a renowned digital profile, and who publicly embraces new technologies so wholeheartedly.
 
Penguin believes that in today's bookselling environment a beautiful hardback book can live alongside a beautiful digital product.  This enriched multi-platform publication will satisfy today's demanding media customer, ensuring that they discover The Fry Chronicles through whichever medium they use and enjoy.

Stephen Fry is an award winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. His legions of fans tune in to watch him host the popular quiz show QI each week, as well as his documentaries on subjects as varied as manic depression, disappearing animals and the United States of America.
He is also the bestselling author of four novels: The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar, as well as a volume of autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, and sundry other works of non-fiction.
The Fry Chronicles is published by Michael Joseph on the 13th September, in hardback priced GBP20. It is the compelling story of Stephen's years at Cambridge University, the beginnings of his iconic relationship with Hugh Laurie, and his first tentative steps into the world of television, journalism, radio, theatre and film. Stephen Fry has sold over 1 million books in the UK alone.
myFry is available in the app store currently priced at GBP7.99. The enhanced eBook will be available from a number of retailers currently priced at GBP12.99 (with multimedia content only viewable on appropriate devices).
 
Thirteen years ago, Moab is My Washpot, Stephen Fry's autobiography of his early years, was published to rave reviews and was a huge bestseller. In those thirteen years since, Stephen Fry has moved into a completely new stratosphere, both as a public figure, and a private man. Now he is not just a multi-award-winning comedian and actor, but also an author, director and presenter. In January 2010 he was awarded the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards.
Stephen runs one of the world's most popular technology blogs, has pioneered the wider use of social networking tools such as Twitter (with a reach of 1.8 million people). He is also prolific in through his own digital entrepreneurialism has had many number 1 hits including the FryPaper app, The Dongle of Donald Trefusis and of course www.stephenfry.com which receives over a million visitors per month.