Francis Plug

Francis Plug is an endearing misfit, a lifelong alcoholic, an unbalanced gardener, a messy guy, cheeky, a caricature of himself. What sets him apart from other men of these characteristics is his obsession with contemporary authors. Specifically, for the Booker Prize winners, whose autographs and invaluable advice he has set out to obtain at all costs. He unabashedly storms into performance after performance, embarrassing the likes of Salman Rushdie, Hilary Mantel, Kazuo Ishiguro, and V.S. Naipaul. And it is that he is also writing a book: a self-help manual for new writers. In a dazzling satire in the purest English style, Paul Ewen reflects on loneliness, the desire to fit in and the lurid intricacies of the publishing industry. This novel is a ruthless portrait of what it means to be an author in the 21st century.