Items related to MEMOIRS
Synopsis
The renowned British author describes his youth, education at Oxford, career in the academic world, his decision to become a full-time writer, and encounters with such notables as Anthony Burgess, Dylan Thomas, Robert Graves, and Margaret Thatcher
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
Amis's ``autobiography''--or, more accurately--portraits of his acquaintances after a few opening chapters on his family, school days, and life at Oxford. Aside from the fact that ``most writers lead dull lives,'' Amis says his holding back saves pain: ``To publish an account of my own intimate, domestic, sexual experiences would hurt a number of people who have emotional claims on me...and I have no desire to cause pain, or further pain, to them or myself.'' What that leaves Amis with is other people and his opinions, which he records in a daily stint of space-filling, all quite styleless for a respected comic novelist who has just had a hit on American TV with his script for The Green Man. He gets off to a great start, describing his father, who manufactures ``unbreakable'' glassware (if dropped on something besides a carpet, a plate or glass exploded like a hand grenade), and his paternal grandmother: ``Mater was a large dreadful hairy-faced creature who lived to be nearly ninety and whom I loathed and feared....'' Others he limns include Francis Bacon, Anthony Powell, Anthony Burgess, Roald Dahl, Malcolm Muggeridge, Margaret Thatcher, actor Terry-Thomas (a brilliant Bertrand in the film version of Lucky Jim, Amis's most famed novel), Lord Snowdon, Arnold Wesker, and many others. At times, as with Wesker, Amis paints a portrait with victorious, if not vicious, brevity--but his portraits of Robert Graves and several others are no reason to read this book. The writer's best moments are on Philip Larkin (rewritten from a version published before Larkin died), and his standing up for neglected writers, such as Elizabeth Taylor, and for Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series. A special chapter on booze, quite funny, goes nowhere. Depthless, but the pace and variety will keep many awake. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherRandom House UK
- Publication date1994
- ISBN 10 0091745330
- ISBN 13 9780091745332
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages320
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 25.95
Shipping:
US$ 6.95
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004031359
Quantity: 7 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Memoirs This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780091745332
Quantity: 10 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Missing jacket. The dust jacket of the book is missing. Seller Inventory # CHL9966220
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780091745332
Quantity: 10 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Published by
London: Hutchinson, 1991
ISBN 10: 0091745330
ISBN 13: 9780091745332
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Arnold M. Herr, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Octavo. B&W photographs. Condition: slight soiling to DJ; else fine in near fine DJ. Pages: xvi, 346. Seller Inventory # 8061CLZ
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Published by
Penguin Random House, 1991
ISBN 10: 0091745330
ISBN 13: 9780091745332
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. First Edition. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # GRP9001993
Quantity: 3 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Published by
Penguin Random House, 1991
ISBN 10: 0091745330
ISBN 13: 9780091745332
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. First Edition. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 2207288-6
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: Kennys Bookstore, Olney, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 1991. Hardcover. Good clean copy in fine dustwrapper with minor shelf wear. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # KAC0002060
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Published by
Random House UK, 1994
ISBN 10: 0091745330
ISBN 13: 9780091745332
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Dan Pope Books, West Hartford, CT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. F. Summitt, 1991. first ed. as new in DJ remainder mark lower edges. 0.0. Seller Inventory # 918
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Memoirs
Seller: Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries Ltd., Galway, GY, Ireland
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 1991. Hardcover. Good clean copy in fine dustwrapper with minor shelf wear. . . . . Seller Inventory # KAC0002060
Quantity: 1 available