Francis Plug

‘For those with a taste for dark, unpredictable and sometimes surreal comedy, this is a book of invigorating originality and the character of Francis Plug himself a creation of twisted genius.’ * Express UK *
‘Francis Plug is a brilliant, deranged new comic creation by the unknown writer Paul Ewen…he has created an extraordinary alter ego in the mentally unusual Plug.’ * Sunday Times UK *
‘A wonderful survey of the strange world of famous authors…Plug’s exchanges with dozens of Booker-prizewinning authors are priceless. But the novel (really an ingenious hybrid of fact and surreal fantasy) takes on much extra resonance in the portrayal of Plug himself, an alcoholic chancer with a propensity for whisky-fuelled escapades.’ * Guardian *
‘One of the funniest books I’ve ever read.’ * The Times *
‘So funny you find yourself giggling helplessly long after you’ve passed the joke…Pure—and purely pleasurable— silliness.’ * TLS *
‘Outrageously good.’ * New Daily *
‘It is becoming a cliché to say, “Paul Ewen is a comic genius and Francis Plug: How to Be a Public Author is the funniest book in years”—but it’s no less true…It might come across as a gentle satire on book folk but Vanity with a capital V also gets an entirely hilarious kicking.’ – Toby Litt * New Statesman *
‘Rambunctious and witty…it’ll tickle anyone’s funnybone.’ * Burnie Advocate *
‘One thinks of Goethe: one thinks of Shelley: one thinks of Plug. He is a force of nature, he is sage, bard and prophet: he is in addition a random menace, and at all times you need to know exactly where he is. They say there are no statues to critics. But the fourth plinth awaits Francis. Perhaps he can be chained to it.’ * Hilary Mantel *

Paul Ewen is a New Zealand writer based in south London. In NZ his work has been published in Landfall and Sport, and in the UK his stories have appeared in the British Council’s New Writing anthology (edited by Ali Smith and Toby Litt), and also in the Times Higher Education Supplement and Tank magazine. He has written for Dazed & Confused, and is a regular contributor to Hamish Hamilton’s online magazine Five Dials.

His first book, London Pub Reviews, was called ‘a cross between Blade Runner and Coronation Street’ (Waterstones) and ‘a work of comic genius’ (Dan Rhodes).

Francis Plug—long-time companion of Paul’s, if only in a parallel universe—is a key figure in the British literary scene, regularly found in the company of today’s highest profile authors. Based in Tufnell Park, London, he also works as a residential gardener (with very competitive rates). According to Francis, How to Be a Public Author, his first book, was written with the assistance of his amanuensis, Paul Ewen.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.