Jason Arday’s memoir will be released in the UK as planned, his publisher has confirmed.
Simon & Schuster announced that Great And Unfortunate Things would be published on Thursday, two weeks after the academic was found dead at his home in south London.
Mr Arday had resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on Aug 5 after allegations of plagiarism and questions about elements of his life story emerged. He was the youngest black professor in Cambridge’s history.
He was found dead in Battersea, south London, on Aug 14.
Mr Arday’s family said in a statement via Simon & Schuster: “To the very end, Jason was clear that he wanted his memoir to be published and it is only right that we honour his wishes.
“There has been so much that has been written and said about our beloved brother, son, father, partner and uncle, mostly by people who don’t know the truth of what he experienced, and we experienced as a family, or what an extraordinary person he was.
“We are happy to allow the book to speak for itself and won’t comment further on its content. The family is still in shock and we are grieving. We call upon the media to give the family the space it needs to come to terms with this terrible loss.”
Jason Arday’s family has said ‘it is only right that we honour his wishes’ by publishing his memoir
The publisher said it would not be making any further comment at this time.
The memoir, which retells the story of Mr Arday’s “non-verbal childhood”, is described by Simon & Schuster as an “unforgettable book about resilience and love”.
Reviewers have questioned the contents of the book over improbable claims about Mr Arday’s childhood and work.
Simon & Schuster described the book as a story of “improbable triumphs”, but nonetheless insisted its publication would continue as planned.
A memorial for Jason Arday, who was found dead at his home days after his resignation from Cambridge University – Harry Murray/Story Picture Agency
In July, Mr Arday was accused of copying parts of his PhD thesis from another student. The University of Cambridge launched an investigation into his appointment and later announced a review of its hiring process for all senior academic positions.
He resigned a few hours after the university announced the investigation, citing the “unrelenting level of public scrutiny“.
In his resignation letter, Mr Arday said the decision should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me”.
Mr Arday is survived by his wife and two children. His family paid tribute to him as a “gentle man” and an “amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”.
An inquest into his death will open at London inner south coroners court on Wednesday.
