Simon & Schuster Acquires English Rights to Philippe Pozzo di Borgo Memoir

By Maryann Yin 

Simon & Schuster imprint Atria Books has acquired the English language rights for Le Second Souffle (Second Wind) by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo.

In 2001, Pozzo di Borgo published his memoir in his native France. The book inspired the 2011 French film adaptation titled Intouchables (Untouchables); the movie has become a big hit in France with almost 14 million ticket sales. Above, we’ve embedded the film’s theatrical trailer.

Here’s more from the release: “In Second Wind, Philippe recounts his story of being left a quadriplegic after a paragliding accident, which transformed him in an instant from an aristocratic business and social leader into a helpless and tragic figure, an ‘untouchable’ in contemporary society. Eventually, he hired an unlikely caregiver—an unemployed, hot-headed, uninhibited Algerian immigrant who turned out to be just as lost and lonely as Philippe, and who was instrumental in helping him return to the world of the living.”

Editorial director Peter Borland negotiated the deal with Writers House agent Kenneth Wright, who represented French publisher Groupe Bayard. Atria Books plans to publish Second Wind (based on the revised version of the memoir) in 2012. Simon & Schuster will release the book as a trade paperback original in four territories: the United States, the UK, Canada and Australia. There has been no mention as to who will serve as the translator for this project.