Amis, Sir Kingsley William

Amis, Sir Kingsley William
▪ 1996

      British novelist and poet (b. April 16, 1922, London, England—d. Oct. 22, 1995, London), created about 40 books—over 20 novels as well as several volumes of poetry, short stories, and miscellaneous other works—but remained best known for his first published novel, Lucky Jim (1953), which launched his literary career. A satire of academic life, it was regarded by some as one of the funniest books in the English language. It won the Somerset Maugham Award and gained Amis fame as one of Britain's Angry Young Men, a label he rejected. Amis also was considered representative of the so-called Movement poets of the 1950s. After Amis' education at St. John's College, Oxford, was interrupted by service in the Royal Corps of Signals during World War II, he graduated in 1947. He taught (1949-61) at universities in Wales and the U.S. and then accepted a post as fellow at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. He resigned in 1963 and thereafter—with the exception of a visiting professorship at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. (1967-68)—concentrated on his writing. Among his notable novels were That Uncertain Feeling (1955), Take a Girl like You (1960), The Green Man (1969), Girl, 20 (1971), Ending Up (1974), Jake's Thing (1978), and The Old Devils (1986), which won the Booker Prize. In addition, Amis also wrote a James Bond novel, Colonel Sun (1968), under the pseudonym Robert Markham. His last book was The Biographer's Moustache (1995). Though his early novels were considered liberal in tone, he had become increasingly conservative by the late 1960s, and some considered him an irascible curmudgeon. Nonetheless, he had the status of a British institution and remained one of the best of the moral satirists. Amis was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1981 and was knighted in 1990.

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  • Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) — born April 16, 1922, London, Eng. died Oct. 22, 1995, London British novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. His first novel, Lucky Jim (1954; film, 1957), was a hugely successful comic masterpiece. He was often characterized as an Angry Young Man,… …   Universalium

  • Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) — (16 abr. 1922, Londres, Inglaterra–22 oct. 1995, Londres). Novelista, poeta, crítico y académico británico. Su primera novela, Jim el afortunado (1954; película, 1957), resultó ser una obra maestra cómica y tuvo un éxito resonante. A menudo se le …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Kingsley William Amis — Sir Kingsley William Amis (eigtl. Kingley Amis, * 16. April 1922 in London; † 22. Oktober 1995 ebd.) war ein englischer Schriftsteller und Dichter. Kingsley Amis studierte Anglistik in Oxford und war nach seiner Militärzeit (1948 bis 1961)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kingsley Amis — Nacimiento 16 de abril de 1922 Clapham, Londres,  Reino Unido Defunción …   Wikipedia Español

  • Kingsley — Kingsley, Charles * * * (as used in expressions) Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) Kingsley, Charles John Kingsley Orton …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Kingsley Amis — Infobox Writer name = Sir Kingsley Amis birthname = Kingsley William Amis birthdate = birth date|1922|4|16 birthplace = Clapham, South London, England deathdate = death date and age|1995|10|22|1922|4|16 deathplace = London, England occupation =… …   Wikipedia

  • sir — /serr/, n. 1. a respectful or formal term of address used to a man: No, sir. 2. (cap.) the distinctive title of a knight or baronet: Sir Walter Scott. 3. (cap.) a title of respect for some notable personage of ancient times: Sir Pandarus of Troy …   Universalium

  • William — /wil yeuhm/, n. 1. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter W. 2. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning will and helmet. * * * (as used in expressions) Huddie William Ledbetter Aberhart William George William… …   Universalium

  • sir — (Voz inglesa.) ► sustantivo masculino Tratamiento honorífico empleado por los británicos. * * * sir (ingl.; pronunc. [ser]) m. *Tratamiento de respeto usado en Inglaterra delante de un nombre de hombre o para dirigirse a la persona de que se… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • William — (as used in expressions) William Alexander Abbott Aberhart, William George William Russell Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) Ashley, William Henry Ashton, Sir Frederick (William Mallandaine) Barkley, Alben W(illiam) Bartram, William William Allen… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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