WikiLeaks' Assange To Pen Tell-All Autobiography

Julian Assange, the man behind international secret-revealing website WikiLeaks, has so far made his name by letting the world peek behind the curtain and see the inner workings of governments and financial institutions. But the enigmatic Australian, over whom much ink has been spilled, is now going to tell the story of his paradigm-shifting media machine in his own words, reports New York.

In an interview with Britian's Sunday Times, Assange confirmed that he's signed a $1.3 million book deal with publisher Random House to pen his side of the story.

"I don't want to write this book, but I have to," he said. "I have already spent 200,000 pounds for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat."

The financial imparative for the book became evident last week after several major banks and credit card companies that have come under fire from their host governments, as well as hackers who support WikiLeaks anti-secrecy efforts, blocked donations to the website.

Assange's book is due to hit the shelves next year, but it will have a well-informed rival to deal with; Daniel Domscheit-Berg, Assange's former spokesman, is also releasing a book about the website. Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World's Most Dangerous Website, will find its way into Germany bookstores in January.

Suggested Reading: New York, Wall Street Journal, Guardian

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