On the 5 September 2003, New York illusionist David Blaine entered a small Perspex box adjacent to the River Thames and commenced starving himself. 44 days later he left the box, four stone lighter. The stunt provoked a national debate.
Author, Nicola Barker tells Jenni Murray why the furore inspired her to write her latest novel, Clear and why she deliberately set out to enrage people with her book.
Nicola Barker's Clear: A Transparent Novel is published by Fourth Estate, ISBN 000719241X
Clear has been included in the Booker 2004 long list. The Booker shorlist is announced on 21 September
