Spicy memoirs attract big book deal

Posh Spice: 'An extraordinary story'

FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) -- Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has sold the rights to her autobiography for "an undisclosed substantial sum."

Sophie Brewer of Penguin Books confirmed the deal to Reuters at the Frankfurt book fair, which has attracted almost 7,000 publishers from 107 countries.

Penguin's Tom Weldon, who commissioned the book, said he could not comment on a British media report that the company had paid the singer -- the member of the chart-topping Spice Girls group known as "Posh" -- well over one million pounds for her story, but predicted the 100,000-word book would be a certain hit.

"Victoria Beckham is probably Britain's most famous celebrity today. She is Britain's new Princess Diana," he said.

"It is a real extraordinary story to read -- the story of the girl next door who wanted to be famous and made it, but when she got there it was a nightmare."

"Fame has been a real test of character, but she's very gutsy and she can cope. A large amount of that has to do with her relationship with (footballer husband) David Beckham. It is an incredible love story."

"She will definitely outsell Geri," Weldon added. The autobiography of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell -- a constant chart rival to the band since she left them -- has sold well over 200,000 copies.

Beckham's as yet untitled book, which should be on the shelves next September and will include 60 new photographs from the Spice Girl's own album, will be based on diaries she has been keeping for years.

"She's putting an awful lot of work into it," Haydon said.

The autobiography is expected to counter some of the claims made in an unauthorised biography of the Beckhams written by Princess Diana's biographer Andrew Morton.

"I've read some of the early chapters and she wants to give a full and frank version of her life to put right some of the wrong things said about her," Haydon said.

The Beckhams dropped a legal bid to ban part of the book "Posh and Becks" in August after reaching agreement with Morton that he would cut some words they objected to.

Penguin's Brewer said the autobiography could contain juicy details about her closest friends.

"She's become a victim of her own fame and there are those in her own circle who have betrayed her," she said.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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