By contrast, the author, 36-year-old Fr?d?ric Beigbeder, worked as one of the top creatives at advertising agency Young And Rubicam for ten years until this book came out two years ago (in France it is called 99 Francs), at which point he was sacked. This wannabe Michel Houellebecq now hosts his own television show, modestly titled Des livres et moi (Books And Me). Tonight (Thursday July 27) he joins Matt Beaumont, author of E, and reads from the book. £9.99, Thur 27 Jun, Institut Fran?ais, 17 Queensbury Place, SW7 (020-7073 1350).