Patti Smith’s cult memoir Just Kids billed for new Showtime series

Patti Smith’s Just Kids is a rare breed among memoirs. A candid coming-of-age story, a document of bohemian living in 1970s New York and the Chelsea Hotel era, and a poignant love letter to the inimitable Robert Mapplethorpe, the book manages to be the quintessential New York story whilst being completely unique. Since being published in 2010, Just Kids has fast gained cult status as much for Smith’s name as for her storytelling. Telling of bright young things living on a shoestring, and love and loss, and peppered with names like Jimi Hendrix and Andy Warhol, Just Kids has it all.

Yesterday American network Showtime announced it has acquired rights to the bestselling memoir, which is to be adapted for a TV series. The series will be co-written and produced by Smith and John Logan, the playwright and producer behind Penny Dreadful.

Smith shed some light on the forthcoming adaptation in a statement: “A limited series on Showtime will allow us to explore the characters more deeply, enabling us to develop stories beyond the book and allow a measure of unorthodox presentation," she said. “The medium of a television limited series offers narrative freedom and a chance to expand upon the themes of the book.”

The singer also recently announced her sequel to Just Kids, titled M Train will be released on 6 October.