Sir Sean Connery to publish his memoirs (never say never)

An Edinburgh publishing firm has beaten hundreds of others from across the UK to secure the rights to a book by Sir Sean Connery - reports The Scotsman.

Canongate Books is set to publish the film star's first major work, which will combine his memoirs of growing up in the Capital with his celebration of "Scotland's past and present".

The actor, who worked his way from being an Edinburgh milkman to one of the true greats of Hollywood, has already started working on the book, which will be called Connery's Scotland.

And it is set to lift the lid on some of the legendary actor's early career, including his time spent growing up in Fountainbridge and working in Edinburgh before getting his first big screen break.

Sir Sean has been writing his memoirs for years and they have been eagerly sought after by publishers from across the globe. Two years ago, he walked off the set of Josiah's Canon, leaving the Prague-based bank robbery film without a star, saying he wanted to spend more time on his memoirs.

But he later also pulled out of a planned autobiography which would have earned him millions, saying that the memoirs weren't ready to be published.

Sir Sean will be collaborating with acclaimed writer and film-maker Murray Grigor, who is helping to co-write the book. It is due to be released next September to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England.

Jamie Byng, publisher at Canongate, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be publishing Connery's Scotland. Not only is it going to be a fascinating and revelatory book about Scotland but Sir Sean is a natural storyteller with his own great story to tell.

"Co-publishing with Hugh Andrew and his team at Polygon adds another exciting dimension to what is going to be one of the biggest publishing projects Canongate has ever been involved in."

The publisher also released a statement from Sir Sean.

He said: "Our goal is to produce a very readable, visually stimulating and hopefully intriguing history of Scotland, with personal discoveries."

It is not the first major book that the Edinburgh publisher has been involved with. In 2002, the company hit the headlines when one of their books, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, won the prestigious Booker Prize award.

James Bond legend Sir Sean announced earlier this year that he was quitting Hollywood, sparking a frenzy among publishers desperate to secure the rights for his autobiography.

Speaking at New York's Tartan Week following an operation to remove a tumour from his kidney, the 76-year-old said he wanted to retire from acting altogether after a star-studded career spanning 76 movies.

However, before he quits acting altogether, he admitted he wants to turn a controversial novel by Edinburgh author Ken McClure into a Hollywood blockbuster.

Last month, Sir Sean received the American Film Institute's annual lifetime achievement award, following in the footsteps of other legendary actors including Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock and Robert DeNiro.

He is set to spend ten days attending the Edinburgh International Film Festival this summer.

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