The hero of Joshua Ferris’s new book is Tim, a high-powered New York lawyer in late middle age who suffers from a rare and upsetting ailment. Every now and again, his legs decide to take him for a walk whether he likes it or not. One moment he’s buttering a slice of toast, or chairing a meeting with a client, and the next he’s up and off, travelling who knows where in whatever the weather. Hours later, his legs aching with exhaustion, he finds himself back in control – and collapses irresistibly into sleep wherever he may be.

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