| Description |
xiii, 392 pages ; 25 cm |
| Note |
"This is a Borzoi book" |
|
Includes index. |
| Summary |
"The definitive collection of essays and reportage written during the past thirty years from one of most provocative and widely read writers--with new commentary by the author. For more than thirty years, Amis has turned his keen intellect and unrivaled prose loose on an astonishing range of topics--politics, sports, celebrity, America, and, of course, literature. Now, at last, these incomparable essays have been gathered together. Here is Amis at the 2011 GOP Iowa Caucus, where, squeezed between "windbreakers and woolly hats," he pours over The Ron Paul Family Cookbook and laments the absence of "our Banquo," Herman Cain. He writes about finally confronting the effects of aging on his athletic prowess. He revisits, time and time again, the worlds of Bellow and Nabokov, his "twin peaks," masters who have obsessed and inspired him. Brilliant, incisive, and savagely funny, The Rub of Time is a vital addition to any Amis fan's bookshelf, and the perfect primer for readers discovering his fierce and tremendous journalistic talents for the first time"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Contents |
By way of an introduction. He's leaving home -- Twin peaks 1. Vladimir Nabokov and the problem from Hell ; Saul Bellow, as opposed to Henry James -- Politics 1. The Republican Party in 2011: Iowa ; The Republican Party in 2012: Tampa, Florida ; The Republican Party in 2016: Trump -- Literature 1. Philip Larkin: his work and life ; Larkin's Letters to Monica ; Iris Murdoch: age will win -- The House of Windsor. Princess Diana: a mirror, not a lamp ; The Queen's speech, the Queen's heart -- More Personal 1. You ask the questions 1 ; The fourth estate and the puzzle of heredity ; On the road: the multicity book tour ; The King's English -- Twin peaks 2. Bellow's lettres ; Nabokov's natural selection -- Americana (stepping westward). Losing in Las Vegas ; Travolta's second act ; In pornoland: pussies are bullshit -- Literature 2. Don DeLillo: laureate of terror ; J.G. Ballard: from outer space to inner space ; Early Ballard: the drowned world ; The shock of the new: A clockwork orange turns fifty -- Sport. Three stabs at tennis ; The Champions League final, 1999 ; In search of Dieguito Maradona ; On the court: my beautiful game -- More Personal 2. Deciding to write Time's arrow ; Marty and Nick Jr. sail to America ; You ask the questions 2 -- Politics 2. Ivan is introduced to the USSR: all together now ; Is terrorism "about religion"? ; In memory of Neda Soltan, 1983-2009: Iran ; The crippled murderers of Cali, Colombia -- Literature 3. Philip Roth finds himself ; Roth the elder: a moralistic investigation ; John Updike's farewell notes ; Rabbit Angstrom confront Obamacare ; Jane Austen and the dream factory -- More Personal 3. Christopher Hitchens -- Politics 3. On Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Her Majesty's opposition ; President Trump orate in Ohio -- Twin Peaks 3. Bellow: avoiding the void ; Vera and Vladimir: letters to Vera. |
| Subject |
Reportage literature, American.
|
|
Essays.
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| Genre |
Essays.
|
| ISBN |
9781400044535 (hardback) |
|
1400044537 (hardback) |
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