Advertising veteran and essayist Adam Leigh joins us for a special free fringe event to discuss his first novel, The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus.

When restless advertising executive Alex Lazarus meets charming lawyer Julian Lloyd-Mason while looking after their children in the park, they hatch a plan to launch a parenting website. Primaparent.com goes global and Alex finds the fame and fortune he always craved. But the trappings of success come at a price; as his life begins to fall apart, he realises too late that wanting more sometimes gets you less.

Described as ‘brilliant’ by the Jewish Chronicle, The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus is a comic novel which examines the nature of ambition and the pitfalls of its ruthless pursuit. Advertising veteran and essayist Adam Leigh joins us for a special free fringe event to discuss his first novel, called ‘innovative and ingenious’ by Fast Show comedian Arabella Weir, ‘very satisfying’ by Daniel Finkelstein and ‘a very ambitious and dexterous take on a riveting world’ by The Iron Lady screenwriter Abi Morgan.

‘Adam Leigh may well have created a new genre: the fictional business memoir’ Jonathan Freedland

‘A funny and entertaining insight into the madness of start-up life and the reckless nature of ambition. Poignant, moving and life affirming. I loved it.’ – Nicola Mendelsohn, VP EMEA Facebook

Chairing this event is Jenni Frazer, an award-winning journalist who now freelances for a variety of publications, both in the U.K. and internationally.

The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus will be available to purchase at the Blackwell’s pop-up bookstall on Sun 3 Oct.