Black takes virtual book tour

Disgraced media baron Conrad Black is to face the British press one last time before his sentencing in Chicago on December 10. Next Wednesday, the former Telegraph proprietor, found guilty of fraud in July, will make a 'virtual' appearance at Waterstone's bookshop in London's Piccadilly to promote his biography of President Richard Nixon. Via a video link-up from Florida, he will conduct an interview with historian Andrew Roberts and spend a further 20 minutes answering questions from journalists. And, using a so-called LongPen, he will sign copies of The Invincible Quest: the Life of Richard Milhous Nixon.

The LongPen, which allows signatures to be transmitted over the internet using fibre optics, was devised by Black's fellow Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood. Confined to his home in Palm Beach, Florida under the terms of his bail, Black has found the device invaluable as he attempts a virtual book tour to promote his well-received Nixon book. Last month, he used it for a similar event in his home town, Toronto.

In his final days of freedom, it seems Black will not go quietly. "No one expects the questions to be restricted to Conrad's book," says one journalist, speaking of the upcoming press conference. "True to form, he seems more than happy to bow out with all guns blazing." ·