First Person
First Person by Richard Flanagan, published by Chatto & Windus in 2017, is a 392-page exploration of the complexities of identity and morality. The narrative follows Kif Kehlmann, a struggling writer who receives a late-night call from Siegfried Heidl, a notorious con man facing trial for massive fraud. Heidl offers Kif a lucrative deal to ghostwrite his memoir, but as Kif delves deeper into the project, he grapples with the unsettling influence Heidl has over him, blurring the lines between author and subject.
In this edition, readers will encounter a psychological and literary examination of crime and deception. As Kif races against time to complete the memoir, he confronts his own values and the nature of truth, leading to a profound internal conflict. Flanagan’s work invites reflection on the impact of lies and the complexities of human relationships, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in the intersections of fiction and reality.
Official synopsis Publisher
As heard on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Book at Bedtime’: the blistering story of a ghostwriter haunted by his demonic subject, the Man Booker Prize winner turns to lies, crime and literature with devastating effect
A young and penniless writer, Kif Kehlmann, is rung in the middle of the night by the notorious con man and corporate criminal, Siegfried Heidl. About to go to trial for defrauding the banks of $700 million, Heidl proposes a deal: $10,000 for Kehlmann to ghostwrite his memoir in six weeks.
Kehlmann accepts but begins to fear that he is being corrupted by Heidl. As the deadline draws closer, he becomes ever more unsure if he is ghostwriting a memoir, or if Heidl is rewriting him–his life, his future. Everything that was certain grows uncertain as he begins to wonder: who is Siegfried Heidl–and who is Kif Kehlmann?
By turns compelling, comic and chilling, First Person is a haunting journey into the heart of our age.
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