The Duke of Sussex‘s controversial and revealing memoir – which was declared the fastest selling non-fiction book ever by its publisher – is proving hard to find at US libraries with thousands of requests in for a limited number of books and eBooks.
Several library systems in major American cities have said that patrons will need to wait several months to borrow a copy of Prince Harry’s ‘Spare.’
For example, in the city of Chicago, its public library has 1,520 ‘holds’ reserving a chance to borrow the book, but only 217 print copies to lend.
It’s even worse in Columbus, Ohio, where there are 1,789 holds in place for 250 print copies.
The Duke of Sussex ‘s controversial and revealing memoir – which was declared the fastest selling non-fiction book ever by its publisher – is proving hard to find at US libraries
Tim Paluch, the communications head for the Des Moines, Iowa public library, says he’s never seen anything like this.
‘The interest is nuts on this one. NUTS,’ he told Axios. ‘We are seeing holds and request numbers unlike just about any book since before COVID. Even the book on CD has 17 holds right now, which is wild.’
The Chicago library system, as well as their counterparts in cities like Minneapolis and Denver, have ordered dozens more copies in an attempt to meet demand since the book’s release.
Even eBook copies are hard to come by: in Denver, 852 holds have been placed for 163 virtual copies of ‘Spare,’ while Philadelphia has 755 holds for 50 eCopies; in Portland, Oregon, the county library has 1,057 holds for 38 eBooks.
Elsewhere, the Hennepin County Library which serves Minneapolis has 1,395 holds for 132 print copies; Indianapolis has 441 holds for just 15.
‘Spare’ has blown other recent buzz books – like Jennette McCurdy’s tell-all ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ and Colleen Hoover’s fiction work – out of the water.
It’s hard for libraries to come up with more supply, as budgets have been cut throughout the pandemic.
The Chicago Public Library system, which runs the Harold Washington Library Center (pictured) – ordered dozens more copies in an attempt to meet demand since the book’s release
Minneapolis Central Public Library in Hennepin County has 1,395 holds for 132 print copies
The Multnomah County Central Library in Portland, Oregon has 1,057 holds for 38 eBooks
The Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio 1,789 holds in place for 250 print copies
‘People will certainly wait a little longer, but the demand is just so high on this type of zeitgeist book that we don’t really have another choice,’ Paluch said.
Libraries desperate to meet demand also increases delivery times and supply chain issues.
Licensing issues also limit the number of eBooks a library can get their swiping hands on.
Prince Harry’s tell-all autobiography was finally released on January 10, with a record 400,000 hardback, e-book and audio format copies reportedly being sold.
The book includes claims that the Prince of Wales physically attacked him and teased him about his panic attacks, and that the King put his own interests above Harry’s and was jealous of the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex is seen leaving ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ on January 9
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said: ‘We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations.
‘As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter).’
As the duke continued a run of high profile promotional interviews, he said he ‘would like nothing more’ than for his children to have relationships with the royal family.
His remarks about his son and daughter came despite the criticism he has levelled at his brother William, father Charles and stepmother Camilla.
In his first print interview about his autobiography, he told US magazine People that Archie, three, and 19-month-old Lili did have a connection with some of the Windsors, whom he did not name, saying this brought him ‘great joy’.
Prince Harry’s memoir Spare is offered for sale at a Barnes & Noble store on January 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois
Prince Harry’s tell-all autobiography was finally released on January 10, with a record 400,000 hardback, e-book and audio format copies reportedly being sold
He also described his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as his ‘guardian angel’ and said she is with him ‘all the time’.
In his interview with People magazine, which featured a flattering photoshoot, Harry said of his book, which was ghost written by JR Moehringer: ‘I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it, and that includes my family. This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey.
‘It’s a raw account of my life — the good, the bad and everything in between.’
Harry has faced criticism for his revelation in Spare that he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghanistan war.
He has also shared frank admissions of drug-taking throughout his life, of losing his virginity to an older woman in a field as a teenager, and getting frostbite on his penis.