The rub of time : Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump: essays and reportage, 1994-2017 / Martin Amis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Amis, Martin, author.

Standardized Title:

Essays. Selections

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Reportage literature, American.

LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Essays.

LITERARY CRITICISM / Books & Reading.

Local Subjects:

LITERARY COLLECTIONS / Essays.

LITERARY CRITICISM / Books & Reading.

Genre:

Essays.

Physical Description:

xiii, 392 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2018.

Summary:

"A scintillating collection of essays, reportage and criticism by one of most provocative and widely read novelists of our time, with new commentary by the author. For decades now, Martin Amis has turned his keen intellect and unrivaled prose loose on an astonishing range of topics--politics, sports, celebrity, America, and, of course, literature. ... Over twenty years' worth of these incomparable essays are gathered together here, ranging from Bellow and Nabokov, his "twin peaks," to Roth, DeLillo, Philip Larkin and Jane Austen; from such peculiar worlds as Las Vegas and the pornography business to figures including Princess Diana, John Travolta and Christopher Hitchens. And running through The Rub of Time is politics, whether in Trump-era America, Britain, Iran, Colombia or elsewhere. From the earliest pieces to the most recent, this is Martin Amis at his prime: brilliant, incisive and savagely funny."--Jacket flap.

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.

Notes:

"This is a Borzoi book."

Includes index.

ISBN:

9781400044535

1400044537

OCLC:

987279062