Jonathan Coe: The Proof of My Innocence

Tuesday 19 November, 7.30 - 8.30pm, Landau Forte College, Fox Street

Award-winning, best-selling author of 14 novels, including The Rotters’ Club, Middle England and Bourneville, Jonathan Coe’s latest is a blistering political critique wrapped up in a murder mystery.

The Proof of My Innocence is wickedly funny and razor-sharp showing how the key to understanding the present can often be found in the murkiest corners of the past.

Post-university life doesn’t suit Phyl. Time passes slowly living back home with her parents, working a zero-hour contract serving Japanese food to holidaymakers at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. As for her budding plans of becoming a writer, those are going nowhere.

That is, until family friend Chris comes to stay. He’s been on the path to uncover a sinister think-tank, founded at Cambridge University in the 1980s, that’s been scheming to push the British government in a more extreme direction. One that’s finally poised to put their plans into action.

But speaking truth to power can be dangerous - and power will stop at nothing to stay on top.

As Britain finds itself under the leadership of a new Prime Minister whose tenure will only last for seven weeks, Chris pursues his story to a conference being held deep in the Cotswolds, where events take a sinister turn and a murder enquiry is soon in progress. But will the solution to the mystery lie in contemporary politics, or in a literary enigma that is almost forty years old.

Jonathan will be in conversation with Dr David Barker, Senior Lecturer in Publishing and the Programme Leader for MA Publishing at the University of Derby.

This event will be filmed and made available as a digital recording after the Festival. For more information please click here.

Please note that a FREE car park is available at Landau Forte College adjacent to the school.