Frédéric Beigbeder and Matt Beaumont came to the French Institute in London to discuss publicity and consumerism.

French writer, literary critic and TV presenter Frédéric Beigbeder began to work as a copywriter in a marketing company specializing in advertising when he was 24. In 2000, he released '99 Francs', the story of a rich and successful copywriter who is addicted to money, women and cocaine. He also wrote 'L'Amour dure trois ans' and 'Un roman français'.

Matt Beaumont s a British novelist and also a former copywriter. Beaumont made his debut in 2000 with the comic novel, 'e. The Novel of Liars, Lunch and Lost Knickers', which consists entirely of e-mails composed by the staff of one advertising office. A recent example of an epistolary novel, it is generally recognised as one of the first e-mail novels.