Hell Yeah: Hannah Gadsby Is Writing A Book That Expands On “Nanette”

When Nanette was released on Netflix last month, it floored the world. Top names like Kathy Griffin, Ellen Page and Roxane Gay publicly praised Hannah Gadsby for such a strong piece of writing, and almost every one of the show’s many reviews had nothing but high praise for it.

Fans were devastated to hear that Gadsby could be quitting comedy after such a groundbreaking performance. But just a reminder that you need not be devastated any longer: Gadsby will release a book next year that flows on from the comedy special. It’ll be called Ten Steps to Nanette.

The book, which will be written in the same memoir style that Nanette was performed in, is set to be released by Allen & Unwin in Australia. According to the NYT, the book now has a US publisher as well, meaning Gadsby’s global success should continue.

“Hannah Gadsby always dreamt of being a cool kid but she had to accept that, just like her childhood dream of being a dog, ‘normal’ isn’t always possible,” the description for the book reads.

“In the vein of David Sedaris, Hannah’s memoir is a string of stories that draws together the varied funny and sometimes dark events of her life, compelling readers to understand the damage society can visit upon those (like Hannah) who find themselves on the outside.”

Ballantine bought Hannah Gadsby’s first book, Ten Steps to Nanette, “a memoir that follows the funny and sometimes dark events of the Australian comedian’s life leading up to her realization that she had to quit comedy as she knew it.”

— Alexandra Alter (@xanalter) August 14, 2018

On the book’s published front, a quote from actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson reads:

“Hannah is a Promethean force, a revolutionary talent… This hilarious, touching, and sometimes tragic book is all about where her fires were lit.”s

Earlier reports suggested that the book would be published earlier this year — but when Nanette became increasingly popular Gadsby set aside those plans.