WHEN the story of your life has been turned into a Hollywood film starring A-Lister Colin Firth it's difficult to work out how to follow it up, but author Blake Morrison has succeeded with ease.

The critically-acclaimed 57-year-old will be talking about his latest novel, South of the River, at Loughton Library on Thursday, March 27, as part of the Essex Book Festival 2008.

But he's anticipating more than a few questions about his most successful release to date, And When Did You Last See Your Father? made into a film starring Firth and Jim Broadbent.

"I don't physically resemble Colin Firth, because after all he's a pin-up, but there was a good character likeness," said Blake, who is a professor of creative and life writing at Goldsmiths, University of London.

"I will be talking about South of the River but I'm expecting plenty of questions about the other book and that is always a pleasure to talk about."

Blake drew on the personal nature of his relationship with his dying father in And When Did You Last See Your Father?, but his latest novel is all about one thing - Blair's Britain.

The father-of-three, a Labour voter, says he has no political axe to grind' in his 500-page tale of five characters as their lives unfold against the backdrop of life in Britain between 1997 and 2002.

"It touches on some of the disappointments people may have had with the government and people will recognise some of the big stories of our time, including the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry and the foot and mouth crisis," added Blake, who lives in Blackheath, South London, with wife Katherine, 56.

"The story opens on the morning of May 2, 1997, and goes from there. I'll leave people to make their minds up about what the book is trying to say. It has taken me about nine years to write so I just hope that readers enjoy it."

Blake, who has also written a study of the Jamie Bulger murder, called As If, has spoken at literary festivals about South of the River, which was released in hardback a year ago and goes on sale in paperback, priced £7.99, on April 3.

He added: "I think South of the River could be made into a six-part television series and follow some of the success of And When Did You Last See Your Father?"

Blake Morrison will be at Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton, at 8pm on Thursday, March 27. Tickets £6/£4. For more details visit the site in related links or call 01206 573948.