Jonathan Safran Foer reading his first novel in a decade

Be the first to hear Jonathan Safran Foer read from his first novel in a decade, Here I Am, ahead of its release in September.

In the book of Genesis, when God calls out, Abraham! before ordering him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham responds, Here I am. Later, when Isaac calls out, My father! before asking him why there is no animal to slaughter, Abraham responds, Here I am.

Here I Am is set in present day Washington DC, and follows the story of a fracturing family in a moment of crisis, examining how one fulfils conflicting duties as father, husband, and son; wife and mother; child and adult; Jew and American.

Jonathan Safran Foer's first novel, Everything is Illuminated was published when he was just 25 years old, to frenzied critical acclaim, a National Jewish Book Award, a Guardian First Book Award and a PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize.

Tickets include a special cocktail inspired by Here I Am.

Earlier in the afternoon, at 3.30pm, there will be a free screening of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the film adaptation of Safran Foer's previous novel, about a nine-year-old boy who searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in 9/11.