Mohammad Child Bride Book Hits US Early

Publisher moves up release date after London firebombing

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2008 2:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – A controversial novel tracing the life of the Prophet Mohammed's child bride has been rushed out early by its US publisher, Reuters reports. The Jewel of Medina's British release was suspended after its London publisher's headquarters was firebombed. Beaufort Books—which took the project after Random House dropped it amid fears of attacks—said it has not received threats, but hoped attention will shift to the book's merits.

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Author Sherry Jones discusses why Random House Publishing canceled publication of her book on the prophet Muhammad's first wife, "The Jewel of Medina." (AP Photo/James Snook )

Muslim pilgrims walk in the courtyard of Qiba mosque, the first mosque built in Islam, in the holy city of Medina, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)

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We felt that it was better for everybody to let the conversation switch from a conversation about terrorists and fearful publishers to a conversation about the merits of the book itself. - Beaufort Books president Eric Kampmann

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Mohammad Child Bride Book Hits US Early