Release of Book on Bin Laden Raid Is Moved Up a Week

By JULIE BOSMAN

In response to a crush of media attention, criticism and consumers clamoring to buy the book, the publisher behind the first-hand account of the Navy SEALs raid that killed Osama bin Laden has decided to move up the release date to next Tuesday.

Dutton, the imprint of Penguin that acquired the book in secret, said that “No Easy Day,” which will appear under the pseudonym Mark Owen, will go on sale Sept. 4, a week ahead of the planned date, Sept. 11.

“The publisher now feels it is important to put ‘No Easy Day' on sale and let the book speak for itself,” Dutton said in a statement.

The author defended himself in a statement to The Times on Tuesday. “ ‘No Easy Day' is a book that I'm proud to have written,” he said. “My hope is that it gives my fellow Americans a glimpse into how much of an honor it is to serve our country. It is written with respect for my fellow service members while adhering to my strict desire not to disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way.”

The publisher and author have endured some public criticism for failing to provide a copy of the manuscript for government vetting before the book was announced. The Defense Department said last week that the author had violated department regulations requiring review of any official information intended for public release that relates to military matters, national security issues or subjects of significant concern to the department.

The Pentagon now has a copy of the book, a department spokesman said this week, but no immediate decisions will be made about the book.

Demand for the 336-page book has been enormous; it is currently No. 1 on the best-seller lists at Amazon.com and BN.com.

Christine Ball, a spokeswoman for Dutton, also said on Tuesday that the publisher had increased the planned print run to 575,000 hardcover copies from the original total, 300,000.

Less than 24 hours after the existence of the book was reported last Wednesday, the author, a former Navy SEAL who was present at Bin Laden's death, was revealed to be Matt Bissonnette, 36, who has been awarded five Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Dutton declined to confirm his identity for security reasons.

Eric Schmitt contributed reporting from Washington.