The Amis Collection: Selected Non-fiction

What advice can one give a green young author? What purpose do literary prizes serve? Where on earth can a man get a decent bite to eat?

This entertaining collection is vintage Kingsley Amis, revealing him at his most robust and incisive. He cuts a swathe through an array of subjects, including:

• Writers and writing
• 'Abroad'
• Eating and drinking
• Music
• Language and education

Amis turns a clear and critical eye on literary figures such as Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell, Anthony Burgess, Ian Fleming, and Philip Larkin, offering sharp observations and insights. He does not spare their potential readers either, as seen in the provocatively titled essay, 'Sod the Public: A Consumer's Guide'.

In typically razor-sharp, wicked, and witty prose, Amis tackles the culture and conceits of his era, leaving readers both entertained and enlightened.