The Life of Kingsley Amis

The Life of Kingsley Amis

by ZacharyLeader (Author)

Synopsis

In this authorised biography, Zachary Leader argues that Kingsley Amis was not only the finest comic novelist of his generation, but a dominant figure in post-war British writing, as novelist, poet, critic and polemicist. Drawing not only on interviews with a range of Amis' friends, relatives, fellow writers, students and colleagues, many of them never before consulted, but also on hundreds of previously unpublished letters, Leader's biography will for the first time give a full picture of Amis' childhood, school days, life as a teacher, critic, political and cultural commentator, professional author, husband, father and lover. He explores Amis' fears and phobias, and the role that drink played in his life. And of course he pays due attention to Amis' work. As the editor of "The Letters of Kingsley Amis", hailed in the "Sunday Telegraph" as 'one of the last major monuments to the epistolary art', Leader is more than qualified to be his authorised biographer. His book will surprise, entertain and illuminate.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 1008
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd
Published: 16 Nov 2006

ISBN 10: 0224062271
ISBN 13: 9780224062275
Book Overview: The eagerly-awaited authorised biography of Kingsley Amis

Media Reviews
Leader has surpassed himself...he gives us not only the man, but also his milieu; he gives us not only the compelling virtues but also the staggering flaws. This is the best biography I have read for ages. - Daily Telegraph Marvellous.... It's a pleasure to read. - Independent From the Trade Paperback edition.
Author Bio
Zachary Leader is Professor of English Literature at the University of Surrey, Roehampton.His books include On Modern British Fiction (2002) and Revision and Romantic Authorship (1999). His editing of Kingley Amis's Letters was described as 'omniscient' by John Carey in the Sunday Times, 'wondrously thorough' by Ian Hamilton in the LRB, and 'exemplary' by David Lodge in the TLS.