ABOUT THE EVENT:

The First Friend is a daring blend of satire and suspense set against the tumultuous backdrop of Stalin's Russia, where the stakes are unbearably high, where a misstep in a friendship could be a matter of life and death.

On Thursday 10th October at The Royal Oak, Balmain, join Malcolm Knox in conversation with Jane Caro.

Copies of The First Friend will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with Knox signing copies after the discussion.

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ABOUT THE VENUE

Attendees are asked to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Seating is unallocated – another reason to arrive early to secure an optimal spot. Why not make a full evening of it, too, by ordering a meal at the Royal Oak before or after the event? One of Balmain's oldest and most loved pubs, it serves a delicious range of food and beverages.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

The First Friend transports readers to the bureaucratic heart of the Soviet Union in the 1930s, where paranoia and political machinations reign supreme. Amidst the chilling atmosphere of Stalin's regime, this satirical thriller follows Vasil Murtov, the oldest friend of Lavrentiy Beria, the boss of the Georgian Republic whose thwarted ambition is curdling into megalomania.
Murtov is Beria’s personal driver and right-hand man. With an impending visit from Josef Stalin and Beria sinking further into madness, Murtov has to navigate the treachery, lies and loyalty within his own oppressive party. Not only to save his own life, but that of his family too.

Combining meticulous research with a flair for dark comedy, Knox explores the absurdities and horrors of totalitarianism, inviting readers to see today's world through a historic lens of sharp wit and dramatic intrigue.

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ABOUT MALCOLM KNOX

Malcolm Knox grew up in Sydney. Since 1994 Malcolm has written for the Sydney Morning Herald and has won three Walkley Awards and a Human Rights Award. His novels include Summerland; A Private Man, winner of the Ned Kelly Award; Jamaica, which won the Colin Roderick Award and was shortlisted in the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards; The Life; The Wonder Lover; and Bluebird. His many non-fiction titles include Boom: The Underground History of Australia; From Gold Rush to GFC, which won the 2013 Ashurst Business Literature Prize; and Bradman's War, shortlisted in the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.

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ABOUT THE HOST

Jane Caro AM is a Walkley Award-winning Australian columnist, author, novelist, broadcaster, advertising writer, documentary maker, feminist and social commentator.

Jane appears frequently on Q&A, The Drum and Sunrise. She has created and presented five documentary series for ABC's Compass, airing in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She and Catherine Fox present a popular podcast with Podcast One, Austereo 'Women With Clout'. She writes regular columns in Sunday Life.

She has published twelve books, including Just a Girl, Just a Queen and Just Flesh & Blood, a young adult trilogy about the life of Elizabeth Tudor, and the memoir Plain Speaking Jane. She created and edited Unbreakable which featured stories women writers had never told before and was published just before the Harvey Weinstein revelations. Her most recent non-fiction work is Accidental Feminists, about the fate of women over 50. The Mother is her first novel for adults. Her second novel, Lyrebird, will be available in April 2025.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

Refunds

Please note that tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or postponed due to extenuating circumstances. Refunds are not issued within 48 hours notice of event date. Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

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This event is presented by Roaring Stories Bookshop Balmain and Allen and Unwin

With thanks to our venue partner The Royal Oak.

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Contact the host of Malcolm Knox in conversation with Jane Caro