Blair to give profits of memoir to charity
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TONY Blair, who took Britain to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, is donating millions in earnings from his forthcoming memoir to a charity for injured troops.
The Royal British Legion said Monday that the former prime minister has agreed to give all proceeds from "A Journey" to its Battle Back Challenge Center. The center opens in 2012 and will provide state of the art sports facilities and rehabilitation services for seriously wounded personnel.
Publisher Random House paid an estimated $7.5 million for Blair's personal account of his time in power, due to be published next month.
Blair spokesman Matthew Doyle said Monday that Blair's donation includes the advance and all royalties. Chris Simpkins, director-general of the Royal British Legion, said the organization "is delighted to accept this very generous donation."
Blair, 57, stepped down in June 2007 after a decade that included a historic peace accord in Northern Ireland, a deeply unpopular war in Iraq and a continuing conflict in Afghanistan.
Blair has been at the center of numerous books, notably "The Blair Years" and the recently published memoir "The Third Man."
He was also the inspiration for the former prime minister dogged by allegations of war crimes in Robert Harris' thriller "The Ghost," which was turned into a film by Roman Polanski.
The Royal British Legion said Monday that the former prime minister has agreed to give all proceeds from "A Journey" to its Battle Back Challenge Center. The center opens in 2012 and will provide state of the art sports facilities and rehabilitation services for seriously wounded personnel.
Publisher Random House paid an estimated $7.5 million for Blair's personal account of his time in power, due to be published next month.
Blair spokesman Matthew Doyle said Monday that Blair's donation includes the advance and all royalties. Chris Simpkins, director-general of the Royal British Legion, said the organization "is delighted to accept this very generous donation."
Blair, 57, stepped down in June 2007 after a decade that included a historic peace accord in Northern Ireland, a deeply unpopular war in Iraq and a continuing conflict in Afghanistan.
Blair has been at the center of numerous books, notably "The Blair Years" and the recently published memoir "The Third Man."
He was also the inspiration for the former prime minister dogged by allegations of war crimes in Robert Harris' thriller "The Ghost," which was turned into a film by Roman Polanski.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
