The bestselling writer and humorist Will Ferguson discusses internet email scams, which feature prominently in his new novel 419 (Viking, 2012), with Joseph Planta.

419 by Will Ferguson (Viking, 2012) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: 419

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The award-winning novelist, humorist, and travel writer Will Ferguson joins me again. He’s got a new novel out, 419. It is described as a novel ‘both epic in its sweep and intimate in its portrayal of human endurance.’ We’ll ask Mr. Ferguson, who joins me from here in Vancouver, what 419 means. My understanding is that it has something to do with those scam emails one gets, usually from someone in a land far away needing help getting money from a bank belonging to a dead relative. It’s an insidious phenomenon, and we’ll get Mr. Ferguson to tell us about the book and more. Apparently, a Canadian woman Laura Curtis goes overseas to investigate her father’s death, which happened because of one of these swindles. Will Ferguson is the author of several prize-winning memoirs including Beyond Belfast, Hitching Rides with Buddha, and Canadian Pie. His novels include Happiness™ and Spanish Fly, which he was on with last. He has won three Leacock medals, and has been nominated for the IMPAC Dublin Award and a Commonwealth Writers Prize. The website for more is at www.willferguson.ca. The book is published by Viking. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Will Ferguson; Mr. Ferguson, good morning.

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