100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.

100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.


Enjoyable, 21 Nov 2007
I read this slim book across two European flights. It's entertaining and there were at least three twists that were enjoyable.

Wonderfully, readable, satirical spy story - best edition available, 09 Jul 2007
This new edition from Penguin - part of a series of six 'Books for Boys' - is beautifully designed and produced, with a re-set text and lovely paper. And the book remains as funny and surprising as when it was written 100 years ago. Difficult not to enjoy if you like spy stories - and satires of them.

100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.


Enjoyable, 21 Nov 2007
I read this slim book across two European flights. It's entertaining and there were at least three twists that were enjoyable.

Wonderfully, readable, satirical spy story - best edition available, 09 Jul 2007
This new edition from Penguin - part of a series of six 'Books for Boys' - is beautifully designed and produced, with a re-set text and lovely paper. And the book remains as funny and surprising as when it was written 100 years ago. Difficult not to enjoy if you like spy stories - and satires of them.

A world of doubt and despair, 28 Oct 2007
In a surreal turn-of-the-century London, Gabriel Syme, a poet, is recruited to a secret anti-anarchist taskforce at Scotland Yard. Lucian Gregory, an anarchist poet, is the only poet in Saffron Park, until he loses his temper in an argument over the purpose of poetry with Gabriel Syme, who takes the opposite view. After some time, the frustrated Gregory finds Syme and leads him to a local anarchist meeting-place to prove that he is a true anarchist. Instead of the anarchist Gregory getting elected, the officer Syme uses his wits and is elected as the local representative to the worldwide Central Council of Anarchists. The Council consists of seven men, each using the name of a day of the week as a code name; Syme is given the name of Thursday. The Secretary is Monday, Radcliffe is Wednesday, Gogol is Tuesday, Professor Worms is Friday, Dr Bull is Saturday and the President is Sunday. In his efforts to thwart the council's intentions, however, Syme discovers that five of the other six members are also undercover detectives; each was just as mysteriously employed and assigned to defeat the Council of Days. They all soon find out that they are fighting each other and not real anarchists; such was the mastermind plan of the genius Sunday. In a dizzying and surreal conclusion, the six champions of order and former anarchist ring-leaders chase down the disturbing and whimsical Sunday, the man who calls himself "The Peace of God".
The book was intended to describe the world of wild doubt and despair which the pessimists were generally describing at the beginning of the 20th century; with just a gleam of hope in some double meaning of the doubt, which even the pessimists felt in some fitful fashion.


The wild joy of being Thursday, 01 May 2006
Witty, wonderfully written and endlessly surprising, The Man who was Thursday is a novel which defies categories. It is hard to believe it was first published a whole century ago and that its protagonists scamper about in tails and top hats 'like black chimney pots'. On one level, it is a breathless thriller worthy of 007 - featuring a descent into an international terrorist organization headquarters, a baffling game of subterfuge between spies and a high speed chase through central London after an elephant and a hot air balloon. On another, it is a profound meditation on the nature of identity and the theological problem of evil. Entertainment and such weighty themes make strange bedfellows indeed, but here it is as if they tear off the sheets and indulge in a 100-page pillow fight so much fun is had by their combination. Chesterton acts as a winking master of revels throughout, orchestrating the chaos in his inimitable style while scattering bon mots and charming comparisons with abandon. One of my personal all time favourites, 'the wild joy of being Thursday' is an experience I will return to again and again.

On Thursday..., 01 Mar 2006
For a book that's as short as this one, "The Man Who Was Thursday" is pretty packed.

G.K. Chesterton's classic novella tackles anarchy, social order, God, peace, war, religion, human nature, and a few dozen other weight concepts. And somehow he manages to mash it all together into a delightful satire, full of tongue-in-cheek commentary that is still relevant today.

As the book opens, Gabriel Symes is debating with a soapbox anarchist. The two men impress each other enough that the anarchist introduces Symes to a seven-man council of anarchists, all named after days of the week. In short order, they elect Symes their newest member -- Thursday.

But they don't know that he's also been recruited by an anti-anarchy organization. And soon Symes finds out that he's not the only person on the council who is not what he seems. There are other spies and double-agents, working for the same cause. But who -- and what -- is the jovial, powerful Mr. Sunday, the head of the organization?

Hot air balloons, elaborate disguises, duels and police chases -- Chesterton certainly knew how to keep this novel interesting. Though written almost a century ago, "The Man Who Was Thursday" still feels very fresh. That's partly because of Chesterton's cheery writing... and partly because it's such an intelligent book.

He doesn't avoid some timeless topics that make some people squirm. Humanity (good and bad), anarchy, religion and its place in human nature, and creation versus destruction all get tackled here -- disguised as a comic police investigation. And unlike most satires, it isn't dated; the topics are reflections of humanity and religion, so they're as relevant now as they were in 1908.

But the story isn't pedantic or boring; Chesterton keeps things lively by having his characters act like real people, rather than mouthpieces. From Symes to the Colonel to the mysterious Sunday himself, they all have a sort of friendly, energetic quality. "We're all spies! Come and have a drink!" one of the characters announces cheerfully near the end.

And of course, once the madcap police investigations are finished, there's still a mystery. Who is Sunday? What are his goals? And for that matter, WHAT is Sunday -- genius, force of nature, villain or god? The answer is a bit of a surprise, and as a reflection of Chesterton's beliefs, it's a delicate, intelligent piece of work.

"The Man Who Was Thursday" is a wacky little satire that will both amuse and educate you. Not bad for a book often subtitled "A Nightmare."

You won't put it down!, 06 May 2004
In this short text, Chesterton shows himself to be a master of a wide variety of styles - the genres of thriller, humour, fantasy, horror and philosophy are only some of those employed by him in this captivating tale. The scholarly introduction illuminates the reader's understanding, whilst also giving details of the contemporary reaction to the text and Chesterton's understanding of it. Although a very different kind of story, this is no less entertaining and thought-provoking than Chesterton's Father Brown stories, and is guaranteed to keep you guessing in just the same way!

Edwardian London through a multi-coloured lens!, 21 Oct 2002
Renowned for his Father Brown stories, GK Chesterton has created a small but perfectly formed classic nightmare-novel.Strange colours and landscapes form around a group of anarchists named after days of the week. The dreamlike quality is enriched by the familiar but almost otherwordly locations,london streets and parks, a winter's night by the Thames, frantic chases accross Northern France and the strange energy of the characters.
At once a realistic fairy tale or a fantastical account of a dream this short story is one to enjoy and immerse yourself in.

100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.


Enjoyable, 21 Nov 2007
I read this slim book across two European flights. It's entertaining and there were at least three twists that were enjoyable.

Wonderfully, readable, satirical spy story - best edition available, 09 Jul 2007
This new edition from Penguin - part of a series of six 'Books for Boys' - is beautifully designed and produced, with a re-set text and lovely paper. And the book remains as funny and surprising as when it was written 100 years ago. Difficult not to enjoy if you like spy stories - and satires of them.

A world of doubt and despair, 28 Oct 2007
In a surreal turn-of-the-century London, Gabriel Syme, a poet, is recruited to a secret anti-anarchist taskforce at Scotland Yard. Lucian Gregory, an anarchist poet, is the only poet in Saffron Park, until he loses his temper in an argument over the purpose of poetry with Gabriel Syme, who takes the opposite view. After some time, the frustrated Gregory finds Syme and leads him to a local anarchist meeting-place to prove that he is a true anarchist. Instead of the anarchist Gregory getting elected, the officer Syme uses his wits and is elected as the local representative to the worldwide Central Council of Anarchists. The Council consists of seven men, each using the name of a day of the week as a code name; Syme is given the name of Thursday. The Secretary is Monday, Radcliffe is Wednesday, Gogol is Tuesday, Professor Worms is Friday, Dr Bull is Saturday and the President is Sunday. In his efforts to thwart the council's intentions, however, Syme discovers that five of the other six members are also undercover detectives; each was just as mysteriously employed and assigned to defeat the Council of Days. They all soon find out that they are fighting each other and not real anarchists; such was the mastermind plan of the genius Sunday. In a dizzying and surreal conclusion, the six champions of order and former anarchist ring-leaders chase down the disturbing and whimsical Sunday, the man who calls himself "The Peace of God".
The book was intended to describe the world of wild doubt and despair which the pessimists were generally describing at the beginning of the 20th century; with just a gleam of hope in some double meaning of the doubt, which even the pessimists felt in some fitful fashion.


The wild joy of being Thursday, 01 May 2006
Witty, wonderfully written and endlessly surprising, The Man who was Thursday is a novel which defies categories. It is hard to believe it was first published a whole century ago and that its protagonists scamper about in tails and top hats 'like black chimney pots'. On one level, it is a breathless thriller worthy of 007 - featuring a descent into an international terrorist organization headquarters, a baffling game of subterfuge between spies and a high speed chase through central London after an elephant and a hot air balloon. On another, it is a profound meditation on the nature of identity and the theological problem of evil. Entertainment and such weighty themes make strange bedfellows indeed, but here it is as if they tear off the sheets and indulge in a 100-page pillow fight so much fun is had by their combination. Chesterton acts as a winking master of revels throughout, orchestrating the chaos in his inimitable style while scattering bon mots and charming comparisons with abandon. One of my personal all time favourites, 'the wild joy of being Thursday' is an experience I will return to again and again.

On Thursday..., 01 Mar 2006
For a book that's as short as this one, "The Man Who Was Thursday" is pretty packed.

G.K. Chesterton's classic novella tackles anarchy, social order, God, peace, war, religion, human nature, and a few dozen other weight concepts. And somehow he manages to mash it all together into a delightful satire, full of tongue-in-cheek commentary that is still relevant today.

As the book opens, Gabriel Symes is debating with a soapbox anarchist. The two men impress each other enough that the anarchist introduces Symes to a seven-man council of anarchists, all named after days of the week. In short order, they elect Symes their newest member -- Thursday.

But they don't know that he's also been recruited by an anti-anarchy organization. And soon Symes finds out that he's not the only person on the council who is not what he seems. There are other spies and double-agents, working for the same cause. But who -- and what -- is the jovial, powerful Mr. Sunday, the head of the organization?

Hot air balloons, elaborate disguises, duels and police chases -- Chesterton certainly knew how to keep this novel interesting. Though written almost a century ago, "The Man Who Was Thursday" still feels very fresh. That's partly because of Chesterton's cheery writing... and partly because it's such an intelligent book.

He doesn't avoid some timeless topics that make some people squirm. Humanity (good and bad), anarchy, religion and its place in human nature, and creation versus destruction all get tackled here -- disguised as a comic police investigation. And unlike most satires, it isn't dated; the topics are reflections of humanity and religion, so they're as relevant now as they were in 1908.

But the story isn't pedantic or boring; Chesterton keeps things lively by having his characters act like real people, rather than mouthpieces. From Symes to the Colonel to the mysterious Sunday himself, they all have a sort of friendly, energetic quality. "We're all spies! Come and have a drink!" one of the characters announces cheerfully near the end.

And of course, once the madcap police investigations are finished, there's still a mystery. Who is Sunday? What are his goals? And for that matter, WHAT is Sunday -- genius, force of nature, villain or god? The answer is a bit of a surprise, and as a reflection of Chesterton's beliefs, it's a delicate, intelligent piece of work.

"The Man Who Was Thursday" is a wacky little satire that will both amuse and educate you. Not bad for a book often subtitled "A Nightmare."

You won't put it down!, 06 May 2004
In this short text, Chesterton shows himself to be a master of a wide variety of styles - the genres of thriller, humour, fantasy, horror and philosophy are only some of those employed by him in this captivating tale. The scholarly introduction illuminates the reader's understanding, whilst also giving details of the contemporary reaction to the text and Chesterton's understanding of it. Although a very different kind of story, this is no less entertaining and thought-provoking than Chesterton's Father Brown stories, and is guaranteed to keep you guessing in just the same way!

Edwardian London through a multi-coloured lens!, 21 Oct 2002
Renowned for his Father Brown stories, GK Chesterton has created a small but perfectly formed classic nightmare-novel.Strange colours and landscapes form around a group of anarchists named after days of the week. The dreamlike quality is enriched by the familiar but almost otherwordly locations,london streets and parks, a winter's night by the Thames, frantic chases accross Northern France and the strange energy of the characters.
At once a realistic fairy tale or a fantastical account of a dream this short story is one to enjoy and immerse yourself in.

Good Enough, 12 Aug 2008
In my quest to finish off the Booker Prize winners, the book award I respect the most, I picked up a copy of the hard-to-find "Old Devils" by Kingsley Amis.
The action takes place in Wales where Malcom, Peter and Charlie and their wives find out that Alun Weaver - Welsh poet of note - and his wife Rhiannon, are returning to live out their twilight years amongst old friends and surroundings.
A nice simple setup for ruminating about the past, gossiping, sneaking around, plenty of boozing and other shenanigans.
However, I must say that I was disappointed. There is some humour; there is some poignant scenes but, overall, I was left unsatisfied.
My copy was almost 400 pages and yet Amis left many of his characters two dimensional - especially the women. Also, I found myself yearning for more background on the characters.
A little depressing too, when people in their "golden years" have little left to do but stay drunk all day.
As an American reader and subtle jokes about Welsh vs. English got by me.
I can recommend this book. It's accessible and intelligent and, at times,
humorous and touching. I expected more but "The Old Devils" is good enough.

a great book - a great writer's best book !, 10 Aug 2001
THE OLD DEVILS is the masterpiece of Sir Kingsley Amis. A wonderful, funny and touching novel, perhaps it is the best book on retirement ? (At 30, I don't know enough to comment !) Great everything, his lad Martin says it's the one his old fella will be remembered for.

100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.


Enjoyable, 21 Nov 2007
I read this slim book across two European flights. It's entertaining and there were at least three twists that were enjoyable.

Wonderfully, readable, satirical spy story - best edition available, 09 Jul 2007
This new edition from Penguin - part of a series of six 'Books for Boys' - is beautifully designed and produced, with a re-set text and lovely paper. And the book remains as funny and surprising as when it was written 100 years ago. Difficult not to enjoy if you like spy stories - and satires of them.

A world of doubt and despair, 28 Oct 2007
In a surreal turn-of-the-century London, Gabriel Syme, a poet, is recruited to a secret anti-anarchist taskforce at Scotland Yard. Lucian Gregory, an anarchist poet, is the only poet in Saffron Park, until he loses his temper in an argument over the purpose of poetry with Gabriel Syme, who takes the opposite view. After some time, the frustrated Gregory finds Syme and leads him to a local anarchist meeting-place to prove that he is a true anarchist. Instead of the anarchist Gregory getting elected, the officer Syme uses his wits and is elected as the local representative to the worldwide Central Council of Anarchists. The Council consists of seven men, each using the name of a day of the week as a code name; Syme is given the name of Thursday. The Secretary is Monday, Radcliffe is Wednesday, Gogol is Tuesday, Professor Worms is Friday, Dr Bull is Saturday and the President is Sunday. In his efforts to thwart the council's intentions, however, Syme discovers that five of the other six members are also undercover detectives; each was just as mysteriously employed and assigned to defeat the Council of Days. They all soon find out that they are fighting each other and not real anarchists; such was the mastermind plan of the genius Sunday. In a dizzying and surreal conclusion, the six champions of order and former anarchist ring-leaders chase down the disturbing and whimsical Sunday, the man who calls himself "The Peace of God".
The book was intended to describe the world of wild doubt and despair which the pessimists were generally describing at the beginning of the 20th century; with just a gleam of hope in some double meaning of the doubt, which even the pessimists felt in some fitful fashion.


The wild joy of being Thursday, 01 May 2006
Witty, wonderfully written and endlessly surprising, The Man who was Thursday is a novel which defies categories. It is hard to believe it was first published a whole century ago and that its protagonists scamper about in tails and top hats 'like black chimney pots'. On one level, it is a breathless thriller worthy of 007 - featuring a descent into an international terrorist organization headquarters, a baffling game of subterfuge between spies and a high speed chase through central London after an elephant and a hot air balloon. On another, it is a profound meditation on the nature of identity and the theological problem of evil. Entertainment and such weighty themes make strange bedfellows indeed, but here it is as if they tear off the sheets and indulge in a 100-page pillow fight so much fun is had by their combination. Chesterton acts as a winking master of revels throughout, orchestrating the chaos in his inimitable style while scattering bon mots and charming comparisons with abandon. One of my personal all time favourites, 'the wild joy of being Thursday' is an experience I will return to again and again.

On Thursday..., 01 Mar 2006
For a book that's as short as this one, "The Man Who Was Thursday" is pretty packed.

G.K. Chesterton's classic novella tackles anarchy, social order, God, peace, war, religion, human nature, and a few dozen other weight concepts. And somehow he manages to mash it all together into a delightful satire, full of tongue-in-cheek commentary that is still relevant today.

As the book opens, Gabriel Symes is debating with a soapbox anarchist. The two men impress each other enough that the anarchist introduces Symes to a seven-man council of anarchists, all named after days of the week. In short order, they elect Symes their newest member -- Thursday.

But they don't know that he's also been recruited by an anti-anarchy organization. And soon Symes finds out that he's not the only person on the council who is not what he seems. There are other spies and double-agents, working for the same cause. But who -- and what -- is the jovial, powerful Mr. Sunday, the head of the organization?

Hot air balloons, elaborate disguises, duels and police chases -- Chesterton certainly knew how to keep this novel interesting. Though written almost a century ago, "The Man Who Was Thursday" still feels very fresh. That's partly because of Chesterton's cheery writing... and partly because it's such an intelligent book.

He doesn't avoid some timeless topics that make some people squirm. Humanity (good and bad), anarchy, religion and its place in human nature, and creation versus destruction all get tackled here -- disguised as a comic police investigation. And unlike most satires, it isn't dated; the topics are reflections of humanity and religion, so they're as relevant now as they were in 1908.

But the story isn't pedantic or boring; Chesterton keeps things lively by having his characters act like real people, rather than mouthpieces. From Symes to the Colonel to the mysterious Sunday himself, they all have a sort of friendly, energetic quality. "We're all spies! Come and have a drink!" one of the characters announces cheerfully near the end.

And of course, once the madcap police investigations are finished, there's still a mystery. Who is Sunday? What are his goals? And for that matter, WHAT is Sunday -- genius, force of nature, villain or god? The answer is a bit of a surprise, and as a reflection of Chesterton's beliefs, it's a delicate, intelligent piece of work.

"The Man Who Was Thursday" is a wacky little satire that will both amuse and educate you. Not bad for a book often subtitled "A Nightmare."

You won't put it down!, 06 May 2004
In this short text, Chesterton shows himself to be a master of a wide variety of styles - the genres of thriller, humour, fantasy, horror and philosophy are only some of those employed by him in this captivating tale. The scholarly introduction illuminates the reader's understanding, whilst also giving details of the contemporary reaction to the text and Chesterton's understanding of it. Although a very different kind of story, this is no less entertaining and thought-provoking than Chesterton's Father Brown stories, and is guaranteed to keep you guessing in just the same way!

Edwardian London through a multi-coloured lens!, 21 Oct 2002
Renowned for his Father Brown stories, GK Chesterton has created a small but perfectly formed classic nightmare-novel.Strange colours and landscapes form around a group of anarchists named after days of the week. The dreamlike quality is enriched by the familiar but almost otherwordly locations,london streets and parks, a winter's night by the Thames, frantic chases accross Northern France and the strange energy of the characters.
At once a realistic fairy tale or a fantastical account of a dream this short story is one to enjoy and immerse yourself in.

Good Enough, 12 Aug 2008
In my quest to finish off the Booker Prize winners, the book award I respect the most, I picked up a copy of the hard-to-find "Old Devils" by Kingsley Amis.
The action takes place in Wales where Malcom, Peter and Charlie and their wives find out that Alun Weaver - Welsh poet of note - and his wife Rhiannon, are returning to live out their twilight years amongst old friends and surroundings.
A nice simple setup for ruminating about the past, gossiping, sneaking around, plenty of boozing and other shenanigans.
However, I must say that I was disappointed. There is some humour; there is some poignant scenes but, overall, I was left unsatisfied.
My copy was almost 400 pages and yet Amis left many of his characters two dimensional - especially the women. Also, I found myself yearning for more background on the characters.
A little depressing too, when people in their "golden years" have little left to do but stay drunk all day.
As an American reader and subtle jokes about Welsh vs. English got by me.
I can recommend this book. It's accessible and intelligent and, at times,
humorous and touching. I expected more but "The Old Devils" is good enough.

a great book - a great writer's best book !, 10 Aug 2001
THE OLD DEVILS is the masterpiece of Sir Kingsley Amis. A wonderful, funny and touching novel, perhaps it is the best book on retirement ? (At 30, I don't know enough to comment !) Great everything, his lad Martin says it's the one his old fella will be remembered for.

Jolly Farce, 04 Sep 2008
Perhaps it was a classic and real scream to read this novel when first published in 1954. It is a jolly farce which has not really withstood the test of time and only seems slightly funny these days. The erosion of years has not however worn away its literary merit. `Lucky Jim', knocks the socks off some of today's supposedly humour tagged excuses and so called contemporary masterpieces. Shine on this crazy diamond.


Shipbuilding Techniques, 24 Mar 2006
Writing in response to other reviews really. The humour isn't dated or gentle - the character studies (because that's what they are I think) of Professor Welch and Margaret are among the best and nastiest things Amis wrote.

Diabolical ending? Can't understand what was meant by that, and I think someone might need a dictionary. It's a HAPPY ending certainly, and, as I think about it, also very funny. Amis says somewhere in the letters that the novel was meant to "comic, not cosmic", and I think that would be well borne in mind, perhaps especially where the ending is concerned. Don't keep wondering what it all might mean, or what the novel's social impact would have been in the 50s.

Amusing enough- absolutely diabolical ending, 29 Jan 2003
There is a strong sense of the meanings of relations between people in this book and very little really happens otherwise. When I try to remember the storyline it is eclipsed by Malcolm Bradbury's Eating People Is Wrong, which is similar to Lucky Jim but far superior and much more funny.
Amis has written a readable book that is interesting in places and will appeal to middle-aged readers more than young. Unfortunately the book sufferers from a lack of plot and has possibly one of the most anti-climatic endings in the history of literature.

Amusing enough- absolutely diabolical ending, 29 Jan 2003
There is a strong sense of the meanings of relations between people in this book and very little really happens otherwise. When I try to remember the storyline it is eclipsed by Malcolm Bradbury's Eating People Is Wrong, which is similar to Lucky Jim but far superior and much more funny.
Amis has written a readable book that is interesting in places and will appeal to middle-aged readers more than young. Unfortunately the book sufferers from a lack of plot and has possibly one of the most anti-climatic endings in the history of literature.

Amusing enough- absolutely diabolical ending, 29 Jan 2003
There is a strong sense of the meanings of relations between people in this book and very little really happens otherwise. When I try to remember the storyline it is eclipsed by Malcolm Bradbury's Eating People Is Wrong, which is similar to Lucky Jim but far superior and much more funny.
Amis has written a readable book that is interesting in places and will appeal to middle-aged readers more than young. Unfortunately the book sufferers from a lack of plot and has possibly one of the most anti-climatic endings in the history of literature.

100 words on Lucky Jim, 07 Jan 2009
As a fan of Martin Amis, I sought this out as something of a curiosity. Humour is clearly an Amis family trait, but Kingsley's work is lighter (more accessible) than his son's. Lucky Jim is unashamedly sit-com in style, with Jim - the harmless, mostly-well-intentioned fool - stumbling from one faux pas to the next. And, of course, every ill-conceived attempt to rectify one awful scenario only precipitates another - more awful than the last. It is classic comedy. In other words: very funny, but rather dated. I wouldn't buy another Kingsley, but I would definitely rescue one from a dusty guest-bedroom shelf.

Makes you chuckle, 18 Dec 2008
I find it hard to regard this book a classic but its still an enjoyable read. Its starts slowly but nicely with Amis teeing up some well assembled comedic set pieces. The comedy involves that most British of emotions- social embarrassment. The humour is very wry and snearing, and whilst this didnt make me laugh out loud, like it seems to have done with many others, it certainy did make me snigger a bit. The first half or so of the book reminded me very much of the last ten years of British sit coms, paticulary "The Office" and "Peep Show". I wonder if Lucky Jim was an influence?

As the book wore i did seem to grow a bit tired of it. Certain things about it started to grate on me. Firstly, its a very insular book. It doesnt really concern much beyond post war academic life in provinsial Britian. So its certainly not a book to read if your looking for an expansive epic about the meaning of life. The small mindedness of the book means that women and the working class for example get totally glossed over. The working class only appear in the book as bar maids or taxi drivers and Amis gives no real texture to them. They simply perform there service and move on, ignored by all characters. Women feature alot in the book but are not really given an expression or voice and the main purpose of women in the book is to infuriate Jim. These concerns led me to hate all the characters in the book especially Jim, and see them as nothing more than a bunch of pompous middle class intelectuals not worth wasting my time on. Not a good way to feel about a book.

However the book did somewhat redeem itself in the final chapters. The climax of the book is Jim reading out a lecture to important university dignitaries on English history in the middle ages. This section is a comic masterstoke from Amis. It genuinly is laugh out loud funny and is probably some of the funnest writing i have read. This certainly saves the book from being an utter disaster as far as my reading of it was concerned.

The Wrong Time, 09 Oct 2008
Its probably the wrong time to be reading this book - to me it comes across as being depressingly old-fashioned.

At the time of publication it appears to have been lauded for its satirical relevance, in a few decades time it may have the charm and interest of a period piece. But to me, the deep misogyny and sneering contempt for all things provincial and non-Oxbridge are more unpleasant than the rigid and pompous post war society that the book is attempting to lampoon.

There are some good comic moments - description of a hangover, fight between two characters, and the frustrations of a slow bus journey - but the humour is patchy and my main memories of the book will be its very peculiar attitude towards women.

Merrie England, Miserable Jim , 04 Sep 2008
Jim Dixon is in his first year as a college lecturer and he's been in trouble nearly from the second he arrived...unfortunately, since he's also on probation, he's panicking a great deal that he'll lose his job. He despises his boss - an elderly, absent minded and rather self important gentleman called Professor Welch - and doesn't even like his subject, Medieval History. (He only ever studied it himself because he'd seen it as the easy option when he was a student). He's had a few unfortunate encounters with his fellow academics since he started - he'd barely arrived at the college when he accidentally caught the Prof of English (??) with a stone on the knee, and then knocked over the Registrar's Chair at his first Faculty Meeting. (If only the Registrar himself hadn't been on the verge of sitting down...) There had also been the essay submitted by one of Dixon's pupils had submitted an essay heavily criticising a book written by one of Welch's ex-pupils. What made this difficult to sweep under the carpet was the level of Welch's involvement - the book was written at his suggestion and under his guidance - while the essay was based heavily on Dixon's lecture notes.

Jim, however, does have a few allies - including Alfred Beesley, (who works in the college's English Department), Bill Atkinson (someone always happy to provide Jim with a cover story) and Carol Goldsmith (the wife of a colleague at the history department). However, Jim spends most of his time with Margaret - another member of staff at the university. It's not that he particularly wants to - rather, he more or less feels morally obliged to. The problem is things have now got to the point where they're widely seen as a couple. Margaret is now "recovering well" at Welch's house after a recent (apparent) suicide attempt. (Prior to Jim, she'd been spending some time with an utter cad called Catchpole...who, rather understandably, ran off with his new girlfriend to North Wales for a couple of weeks). Jim had been supposed to meet her for a pot of tea that evening , but had backed out to write the following day's lecture...it's something he feels rather guilty about that, bearing in mind what had happened. (This guilt is something Margaret shamelessly trades on throughout the book).

Since Margaret is staying at the Prof's house, Jim can't avoid visiting once in a while. One of the most significant - not to mention disastrous - visits is for a weekend long artistic gathering. Jim manages to set fire to his bedclothes, destroy his bedside table, and make an enemy of Bertrand - one of the professor's sons. Bertrand, a pretentious artist with an awful beard and a significant superiority complex, arrives from London for the proceedings with a very pretty guest called Christine Callaghan. Jim naturally is smitten - but is afraid to make any move...partly for fear of what it will do to Margaret, and partly because he knows stealing Betrand's girlfriend will lower his standing in the Professor's eyes even further. Still, at least he's interested in Christine herself...unlike Bertrand, who's only interested in her uncle - the noted art critic, Julius Gore-Urquhart.

An amusing and easily read book. Jim proves a likeable character - although the laughter comes mostly at his expense, as he lurches from one disaster to another.

Classic Flop?, 18 Jul 2008
I first read the thing back in the summer 1975 (I can be sure of the date because it was part of my University set reading - some `wit' had included this on the list of `books to study before coming' as it was supposed to have sketches of people still teaching at the university in it - if it did, I never met them).

I didn't find it very funny then, and I find it even less so now.

It is in the genre of `campus novels' - a particularly tacky genre - and is claimed to have been `seminal' - for which I shall never forgive it.

For those who don't know, campus novels are about College and University campuses; are written by people whose whole lives have been blighted by the college experience and consequently feel it incumbent upon themselves to inflict a similar blight on the rest of their and future generations; they usually attempt to be `hilarious' - and fail.

Campus Novels are loved by academics (a sort of S & M experience, I would suggest) and book critics (who tend to be failed academics - and consequently promote them as some sort of revenge taking experience). They pop up far too often on suggested reading lists and the like.

`Lucky Jim' supposedly changed the whole post-war generation ... with little evidence to support this, I am firmly `in denial'.

Jim Dixon is the sort of lout who, because he had nothing better to do and is too lazy to do anything anyway, enters the University lecturing profession dishonestly - claiming interest and expertise where he has none. The book follows this thug's adventures through a `red-brick' university where he causes drunken destruction and chaos wherever he goes. He exhibits the sort of socialist rhetoric you'd expect and lands a job at the end with a millionaire.

What is clear to me (although not so clear to many at the time of publication, or since) is that Mr Amis does not like Jim - he is an `oink' of the wrong class and only becomes respectable at the end as he moves into the pale blue conservative world. His luck is in escaping the not-really-university `red-brick' institution, whose academic standards and personnel are only a joke.

The so called humour is in fact barely disguised contempt for the genuine changes brought on by a World War that shattered the privilege of education and class (although not so effectively). Educating this sort of person is obviously a dumbing-down in the eyes of Mr Amis.

The excellent introduction to the Penguin Edition, by David Lodge, also points out the attack being made on Graham Greene - especially on `The Heart of the Matter'.

There are obvious connections and references - from suicide to doing `the right thing'.

All I can say is I re-read, `The Heart of the Matter' recently and was impressed: I re-read this slight book and found it severely wanting.

Fortunately Mr Amis went on to write better things - unfortunately, his politics went even further in the wrong direction.


Enjoyable, 21 Nov 2007
I read this slim book across two European flights. It's entertaining and there were at least three twists that were enjoyable.

Wonderfully, readable, satirical spy story - best edition available, 09 Jul 2007
This new edition from Penguin - part of a series of six 'Books for Boys' - is beautifully designed and produced, with a re-set text and lovely paper. And the book remains as funny and surprising as when it was written 100 years ago. Difficult not to enjoy if you like spy stories - and satires of them.

A world of doubt and despair, 28 Oct 2007
In a surreal turn-of-the-century London, Gabriel Syme, a poet, is recruited to a secret anti-anarchist taskforce at Scotland Yard. Lucian Gregory, an anarchist poet, is the only poet in Saffron Park, until he loses his temper in an argument over the purpose of poetry with Gabriel Syme, who takes the opposite view. After some time, the frustrated Gregory finds Syme and leads him to a local anarchist meeting-place to prove that he is a true anarchist. Instead of the anarchist Gregory getting elected, the officer Syme uses his wits and is elected as the local representative to the worldwide Central Council of Anarchists. The Council consists of seven men, each using the name of a day of the week as a code name; Syme is given the name of Thursday. The Secretary is Monday, Radcliffe is Wednesday, Gogol is Tuesday, Professor Worms is Friday, Dr Bull is Saturday and the President is Sunday. In his efforts to thwart the council's intentions, however, Syme discovers that five of the other six members are also undercover detectives; each was just as mysteriously employed and assigned to defeat the Council of Days. They all soon find out that they are fighting each other and not real anarchists; such was the mastermind plan of the genius Sunday. In a dizzying and surreal conclusion, the six champions of order and former anarchist ring-leaders chase down the disturbing and whimsical Sunday, the man who calls himself "The Peace of God".
The book was intended to describe the world of wild doubt and despair which the pessimists were generally describing at the beginning of the 20th century; with just a gleam of hope in some double meaning of the doubt, which even the pessimists felt in some fitful fashion.


The wild joy of being Thursday, 01 May 2006
Witty, wonderfully written and endlessly surprising, The Man who was Thursday is a novel which defies categories. It is hard to believe it was first published a whole century ago and that its protagonists scamper about in tails and top hats 'like black chimney pots'. On one level, it is a breathless thriller worthy of 007 - featuring a descent into an international terrorist organization headquarters, a baffling game of subterfuge between spies and a high speed chase through central London after an elephant and a hot air balloon. On another, it is a profound meditation on the nature of identity and the theological problem of evil. Entertainment and such weighty themes make strange bedfellows indeed, but here it is as if they tear off the sheets and indulge in a 100-page pillow fight so much fun is had by their combination. Chesterton acts as a winking master of revels throughout, orchestrating the chaos in his inimitable style while scattering bon mots and charming comparisons with abandon. One of my personal all time favourites, 'the wild joy of being Thursday' is an experience I will return to again and again.

On Thursday..., 01 Mar 2006
For a book that's as short as this one, "The Man Who Was Thursday" is pretty packed.

G.K. Chesterton's classic novella tackles anarchy, social order, God, peace, war, religion, human nature, and a few dozen other weight concepts. And somehow he manages to mash it all together into a delightful satire, full of tongue-in-cheek commentary that is still relevant today.

As the book opens, Gabriel Symes is debating with a soapbox anarchist. The two men impress each other enough that the anarchist introduces Symes to a seven-man council of anarchists, all named after days of the week. In short order, they elect Symes their newest member -- Thursday.

But they don't know that he's also been recruited by an anti-anarchy organization. And soon Symes finds out that he's not the only person on the council who is not what he seems. There are other spies and double-agents, working for the same cause. But who -- and what -- is the jovial, powerful Mr. Sunday, the head of the organization?

Hot air balloons, elaborate disguises, duels and police chases -- Chesterton certainly knew how to keep this novel interesting. Though written almost a century ago, "The Man Who Was Thursday" still feels very fresh. That's partly because of Chesterton's cheery writing... and partly because it's such an intelligent book.

He doesn't avoid some timeless topics that make some people squirm. Humanity (good and bad), anarchy, religion and its place in human nature, and creation versus destruction all get tackled here -- disguised as a comic police investigation. And unlike most satires, it isn't dated; the topics are reflections of humanity and religion, so they're as relevant now as they were in 1908.

But the story isn't pedantic or boring; Chesterton keeps things lively by having his characters act like real people, rather than mouthpieces. From Symes to the Colonel to the mysterious Sunday himself, they all have a sort of friendly, energetic quality. "We're all spies! Come and have a drink!" one of the characters announces cheerfully near the end.

And of course, once the madcap police investigations are finished, there's still a mystery. Who is Sunday? What are his goals? And for that matter, WHAT is Sunday -- genius, force of nature, villain or god? The answer is a bit of a surprise, and as a reflection of Chesterton's beliefs, it's a delicate, intelligent piece of work.

"The Man Who Was Thursday" is a wacky little satire that will both amuse and educate you. Not bad for a book often subtitled "A Nightmare."

You won't put it down!, 06 May 2004
In this short text, Chesterton shows himself to be a master of a wide variety of styles - the genres of thriller, humour, fantasy, horror and philosophy are only some of those employed by him in this captivating tale. The scholarly introduction illuminates the reader's understanding, whilst also giving details of the contemporary reaction to the text and Chesterton's understanding of it. Although a very different kind of story, this is no less entertaining and thought-provoking than Chesterton's Father Brown stories, and is guaranteed to keep you guessing in just the same way!

Edwardian London through a multi-coloured lens!, 21 Oct 2002
Renowned for his Father Brown stories, GK Chesterton has created a small but perfectly formed classic nightmare-novel.Strange colours and landscapes form around a group of anarchists named after days of the week. The dreamlike quality is enriched by the familiar but almost otherwordly locations,london streets and parks, a winter's night by the Thames, frantic chases accross Northern France and the strange energy of the characters.
At once a realistic fairy tale or a fantastical account of a dream this short story is one to enjoy and immerse yourself in.

Good Enough, 12 Aug 2008
In my quest to finish off the Booker Prize winners, the book award I respect the most, I picked up a copy of the hard-to-find "Old Devils" by Kingsley Amis.
The action takes place in Wales where Malcom, Peter and Charlie and their wives find out that Alun Weaver - Welsh poet of note - and his wife Rhiannon, are returning to live out their twilight years amongst old friends and surroundings.
A nice simple setup for ruminating about the past, gossiping, sneaking around, plenty of boozing and other shenanigans.
However, I must say that I was disappointed. There is some humour; there is some poignant scenes but, overall, I was left unsatisfied.
My copy was almost 400 pages and yet Amis left many of his characters two dimensional - especially the women. Also, I found myself yearning for more background on the characters.
A little depressing too, when people in their "golden years" have little left to do but stay drunk all day.
As an American reader and subtle jokes about Welsh vs. English got by me.
I can recommend this book. It's accessible and intelligent and, at times,
humorous and touching. I expected more but "The Old Devils" is good enough.

a great book - a great writer's best book !, 10 Aug 2001
THE OLD DEVILS is the masterpiece of Sir Kingsley Amis. A wonderful, funny and touching novel, perhaps it is the best book on retirement ? (At 30, I don't know enough to comment !) Great everything, his lad Martin says it's the one his old fella will be remembered for.

Jolly Farce, 04 Sep 2008
Perhaps it was a classic and real scream to read this novel when first published in 1954. It is a jolly farce which has not really withstood the test of time and only seems slightly funny these days. The erosion of years has not however worn away its literary merit. `Lucky Jim', knocks the socks off some of today's supposedly humour tagged excuses and so called contemporary masterpieces. Shine on this crazy diamond.


Shipbuilding Techniques, 24 Mar 2006
Writing in response to other reviews really. The humour isn't dated or gentle - the character studies (because that's what they are I think) of Professor Welch and Margaret are among the best and nastiest things Amis wrote.

Diabolical ending? Can't understand what was meant by that, and I think someone might need a dictionary. It's a HAPPY ending certainly, and, as I think about it, also very funny. Amis says somewhere in the letters that the novel was meant to "comic, not c