EXCLUSIVE: Scott Free snaps up Anne de Courcy’s social history The Fishing Fleet.

Ridley Scott’s Scott Free London has secured the film rights to Anne de Courcy’s best-selling book, The Fishing Fleet.

De Courcy’s well-received social history of husband hunting in the Raj describes the exploits of young British women sent by the boatload to India to find love and marriage.

Scott Free London will develop the book as a theatrical release, with Liza Marshall producing. De Courcy will act as development consultant.

The deal was negotiated by Conrad Williams of agency Blake Friedmann and Carlo Dusi for Scott Free London.