Brazen pre-empts Patrick's 'wickedly funny' medical memoir

Brazen, the newest imprint of the Octopus Publishing Group, led editorial director Romilly Morgan, has pre-empted a "wickedly funny" memoir by doctor and comedian Ed Patrick.

Morgan acquired world English rights for Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown, with publication scheduled for 26th August 2021. 

Patrick is a doctor and comedian who has performed across the UK. He also hosts the "Comedians' Surgery" podcast and created BBC Radio Two show "Infectious Personalities". 

The synopsis for his memoir reads: "Catch Your Breath is a gut-punch of a memoir by a doctor and comedian whose job is to keep people alive after putting them to sleep. Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it’s not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It’s enough to leave anyone feeling uncomfortably numb, especially in the midst of a pandemic. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughing gas to be had."

Morgan said: "I read Ed’s proposal in one sitting and pre-empted the book the next day. He manages to be both wickedly funny and gut-punch tragic all in one sentence. If James Herriot had been an anaesthetist, he would have written a book a lot like this."

Patrick commented: "I didn’t expect that being an anaesthetist in a pandemic would leave me outside my front door naked, or indeed that I’d be telling this story to readers. Nevertheless, I am excited to shed more light on this and the mysterious world of drugs and coffee."