A Esfera dos Livros (Portugal) acquires rights of "The Incredible Story of Henry N. Brown" by Anne Helene Bubenzer

We are thrilled to announce that Portuguese readers will also be able to enjoy this moving story. The novel was originally published in German by Thiele Verlag (hardcover) and Rowoholt Verlag (paperback). A Esfera dos Livros will publish it in Portugal in 2013.

Translation rights were previously sold to: Grijalbo/RHM (Spanish & Catalan), Sperling & Kupfer (Italian) 

 More than 20.000 copies sold in paperback (Rowoholt) 

The most amazing autobiography of a small teddy-bear with a big heart who knows that love isn’t always expressed in words. A warm-hearted story of life, loss and love, seen through the eyes of a teddy-bear who gets to know not only some of his ‘owners’ very close but also the history of our last century. Teddy-bear’s philosophy at its best. 

 The teddy bear Henry N. Brown came into the world on 16 July 1921. He had to wait until his second eye was sewn on before he could see, but from then on his life was never dull. His travels took him on a veritable Odyssey through Europe, from England to France and onto Germany, Norway, Italy and Hungary. This is the story of the twentieth century in times of war and peace, triumph and defeat, as witnessed by a teddy bear. 

Like all soft toys, Henry can’t talk or move by himself. He is a natural listener, a mirror for the human soul. His gift is to provide people with what they can’t find elsewhere. But over the years no one realizes that Henry is carrying something inside him, something that he calls 'the love'. It’s a secret that he has kept for a lifetime, a secret that comes out in the very end when Henry causes the alarm at the Vienna airport where his new owner, a German author who bought him from an Austrian antique shop, tries to get through the security bars. A secret that will touch every reader’s heart. 

Praise from Spanish media:

 * "One of the best books I’ve read this year. I do not hesitate to recommend it. I loved it. My score: 9/10” (El Blog de Welzen) 

 * “A wonderful novel for all of us who remain childs in our souls. I recommend it very much for all of those who want to take a tour through the story of the 20th C. Seen from a special and tender point of view” (Blog Pinkieland) 

Anne Helene Bubenzer was born 1973 in Hüttental/Siegen (Germany) and works as a freelance writer, editor and translator. Watch the author talking about the book in English (here) 

Spanish cover of the novel (Grijalbo)