UK Random House imprint Harvill Secker has reportedly acquired the rights to publish Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s latest book 1Q84, which was recently released to great acclaim in his home country. It will be published in two volumes.

Writes Bookseller.com:

“Harvill publishing director Liz Foley bought UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada for Harvill – Murakami’s longterm publisher – with Rachel Cugnoni to publish the paperback at Vintage.”

The Guardian says 1Q84 is ‘classic Murakami’:

It is described as a “complex and surreal narrative” that “shifts back and forth between tales of two characters, a man and a woman, who are searching for each other”. The novel “explores social and emotional issues such as cult religions, violence, family ties and love.”

Most of Murakami’s works gradually introduce elements of the fantastic into the everyday, even mundane, world of his protagonists. Usually his main character is a late 20’s male, disassociated with the society around him and from his emotions and love interest.