KEY POINTS:
MOSCOW - Casual sex, excessive drinking and drug use are routine for many foreigners working in Moscow, but a female lawyer with a top British firm has landed herself in hot water for publishing what appear to be her diaries online.
Expat, an erotic novel, is written by Deidre Dare, an American in her 40s who works as a senior lawyer for British law firm Allen & Overy in the Russian capital. The novel is posted on her website, with shots of the lawyer in lingerie and a series of raunchy poems.
"There is something thrilling about being in bed with a German, even if he does have a tendency to make uninteresting small talk. ('Do you think it will be cold tomorrow? If so, should I wear two pairs of socks?')'Oh, yeah, Baby,' I thought, as Patrick gently kissed my eyelids and stroked my face," she writes. "I sighed as if in pleasure, when, really, my mind was occupied with the thought that it is disappointing how the Germans are really some of the most boring people on Earth."
It continues in much the same vein for 11 chapters, and then ends abruptly with a note: "The author has been forbidden from publishing further chapters of Expat for the time being. She will resume if and when she is permitted to."
Dare said that she had been instructed by her lawyers to give no comment. A source close to her said that she was worried she may lose her job because of the scandal. However, she has received hundreds of emails from admirers, including one European businessman who offered her 20,000 ($48,800) to take her to dinner.
Each chapter of Expat contains reflections on Moscow life, lots of "gentle hair stroking", and at least one sex scene.
The novel comes with a disclaimer that all the events and characters are fictional. However, many people on the expat law scene said that they recognised incidents and characters.
"What on earth does she think she's doing?" said a lawyer working for a different Moscow firm. "It's absolutely insane to be posting this stuff online. Her bosses must be furious. I would be amazed if she doesn't get fired."
According to an information on Allen & Overy's website, "Deidre is an international finance and projects lawyer who has represented diverse clients involved in financings, equipment leasing and projects around the world."
- INDEPENDENT
