The Information is a 1995 novel by British writer Martin Amis. The plot involves two forty-year-old novelists, Gwyn Barry (successful) and Richard Tull (not so). Amis has asserted that both characters are based (if they can be regarded as based on anybody) on himself.[1] It is, says Amis, a book about "literary enmity".[1]
Gwyn Barry and Richard Tull have been friends since they roomed together at university. Richard Tull was a promising writer with a seemingly bright future. His first novel, 'Aforethought', was published, but 'nobody understood it, or even finished it.' Three years later, his second novel, 'Dreams Don't Mean Anything' was published in Britain but not America. His third, fourth and all subsequent novels were not published. His career flags and he finds himself becoming depressed, writing book reviews, articles for a small literary magazine and sub-editing for a vanity press. To his chagrin, Gwyn Barry—whose literary skills Tull holds in low esteem—has written a phenomenally successful second novel, entitled 'Amelior' (about a rural utopia) and is in the running to win a lucrative and respected literary prize. Barry enjoys a rarified life, with his agent striking lucrative deals for 'Amelior Regained' whilst Tull toils away with his unsuccessful pursuits.
Tull, increasingly envious, begins to manufacture ways of bringing Barry down. These begin relatively innocently as attempts to cause Barry inconvenience. Later, however, things become much more serious as Tull makes contact with violent men he later finds he cannot control.
Themesedit
In a later interview Amis elaborated on the subject of midlife crisis, describing it as "an hysterical overreaction to the certain knowledge that you're going to die."[2]
Throughout the narrative Amis digresses into depicting different vistas of interstellar space. Looking on the vast range of the Universe and its lifelessness serves the theme of mortality. In addition the book deals with ideas of success, failure and envy.
Receptionedit
The New York Times said, "Amis is quite dazzling here [...] drags a bit around the middle, but you're never out of reach of a sparkly phrase, stiletto metaphor or drop-dead insight into the human condition."[3] A further review from the same paper said "Amis has [an] idiosyncratic vision and his ability to articulate that vision in wonderfully edgy, street-smart prose [...] an uncompromising and highly ambitious novel that should also be a big popular hit.".[4] In London The Independent gave a less favourable review saying, "The Information has been seen as the conclusion of a London trilogy that opened with Money and London Fields - but that argument doesn't stand up. They're all the same book, a template worked over three times, retyped rather than rewritten [...] The Information reads like 500 pages of smart, highly finished extracts. It doesn't add up. It's a Herbie Hide of a novel, a pumped cruiserweight, flashy, fast, brave and hopelessly overmatched."[5]
Circumstances surrounding publicationedit
Amis came under attack for two reasons around the time The Information was published. Firstly he had dropped his agent, Pat Kavanagh, wife of Julian Barnes, and had signed up with Andrew Wylie, perceived to be a more aggressive agent. Amis and Barnes had been friends but this caused a rift that was played out in public. Secondly he received an almost unheard of advance for a literary novel (approximately £500,000 according to most sources)[6] which caused what was described as resentment and envy amongst his peers.
Further readingedit
Bentley, Nick (2014). Martin Amis (Writers and Their Work). Northcote House Publishing Ltd.
Diedrick, James (2004). Understanding Martin Amis (Understanding Contemporary British Literature). University of South Carolina Press.
Finney, Brian (2013). Martin Amis (Routledge Guides to Literature). Routledge.
Keulks, Gavin (2003). Father and Son: Kingsley Amis, Martin Amis, and the British Novel Since 1950. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN978-0299192105.
Keulks, Gavin, ed. (2006). Martin Amis: Postmodernism and Beyond. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN978-0230008304.
Tredall, Nicolas (2000). The Fiction of Martin Amis (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism). Palgrave Macmillan.
Bradford, Richard (November 2012). Martin Amis: The Biography. Pegasus. ISBN978-1605983851.
Referencesedit
^ abFuller, Graham (May 1995). "The Prose and Cons of Martin Amis" (PDF). Interview.
^Buckley, Christopher (23 April 1995). "The Inflamation". New York Times. p. 73 ("Books" section, New York edition). Retrieved 14 February 2010.
^Kakutani, Michiko (2 May 1995). "Raging Midlife Crisis As Contemporary Ethos". New York Times. p. C17 (New York edition). Retrieved 14 February 2010.
^Sinclair, Iain (25 March 1995). "Confessions of a failed revenger". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
^Quinn, Anthony (25 March 1995). "The Investment". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
January 01, 1970
information, novel, information, 1995, novel, british, writer, martin, amis, plot, involves, forty, year, novelists, gwyn, barry, successful, richard, tull, amis, asserted, that, both, characters, based, they, regarded, based, anybody, himself, says, amis, boo. The Information is a 1995 novel by British writer Martin Amis The plot involves two forty year old novelists Gwyn Barry successful and Richard Tull not so Amis has asserted that both characters are based if they can be regarded as based on anybody on himself 1 It is says Amis a book about literary enmity 1 The InformationFirst UK edition coverAuthorMartin AmisCountryEnglandLanguageEnglishPublisherFlamingo UK Harmony Books US Publication date1995Media typePrint hardback amp paperback Pages494ISBN0 00 225356 9 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Themes 3 Reception 4 Circumstances surrounding publication 5 Further reading 6 ReferencesSynopsis editGwyn Barry and Richard Tull have been friends since they roomed together at university Richard Tull was a promising writer with a seemingly bright future His first novel Aforethought was published but nobody understood it or even finished it Three years later his second novel Dreams Don t Mean Anything was published in Britain but not America His third fourth and all subsequent novels were not published His career flags and he finds himself becoming depressed writing book reviews articles for a small literary magazine and sub editing for a vanity press To his chagrin Gwyn Barry whose literary skills Tull holds in low esteem has written a phenomenally successful second novel entitled Amelior about a rural utopia and is in the running to win a lucrative and respected literary prize Barry enjoys a rarified life with his agent striking lucrative deals for Amelior Regained whilst Tull toils away with his unsuccessful pursuits Tull increasingly envious begins to manufacture ways of bringing Barry down These begin relatively innocently as attempts to cause Barry inconvenience Later however things become much more serious as Tull makes contact with violent men he later finds he cannot control Themes editIn a later interview Amis elaborated on the subject of midlife crisis describing it as an hysterical overreaction to the certain knowledge that you re going to die 2 Throughout the narrative Amis digresses into depicting different vistas of interstellar space Looking on the vast range of the Universe and its lifelessness serves the theme of mortality In addition the book deals with ideas of success failure and envy Reception editThe New York Times said Amis is quite dazzling here drags a bit around the middle but you re never out of reach of a sparkly phrase stiletto metaphor or drop dead insight into the human condition 3 A further review from the same paper said Amis has an idiosyncratic vision and his ability to articulate that vision in wonderfully edgy street smart prose an uncompromising and highly ambitious novel that should also be a big popular hit 4 In London The Independent gave a less favourable review saying The Information has been seen as the conclusion of a London trilogy that opened with Money and London Fields but that argument doesn t stand up They re all the same book a template worked over three times retyped rather than rewritten The Information reads like 500 pages of smart highly finished extracts It doesn t add up It s a Herbie Hide of a novel a pumped cruiserweight flashy fast brave and hopelessly overmatched 5 Circumstances surrounding publication editAmis came under attack for two reasons around the time The Information was published Firstly he had dropped his agent Pat Kavanagh wife of Julian Barnes and had signed up with Andrew Wylie perceived to be a more aggressive agent Amis and Barnes had been friends but this caused a rift that was played out in public Secondly he received an almost unheard of advance for a literary novel approximately 500 000 according to most sources 6 which caused what was described as resentment and envy amongst his peers Further reading editBentley Nick 2014 Martin Amis Writers and Their Work Northcote House Publishing Ltd Diedrick James 2004 Understanding Martin Amis Understanding Contemporary British Literature University of South Carolina Press Finney Brian 2013 Martin Amis Routledge Guides to Literature Routledge Keulks Gavin 2003 Father and Son Kingsley Amis Martin Amis and the British Novel Since 1950 University of Wisconsin Press ISBN 978 0299192105 Keulks Gavin ed 2006 Martin Amis Postmodernism and Beyond Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 978 0230008304 Tredall Nicolas 2000 The Fiction of Martin Amis Readers Guides to Essential Criticism Palgrave Macmillan Bradford Richard November 2012 Martin Amis The Biography Pegasus ISBN 978 1605983851 References edit a b Fuller Graham May 1995 The Prose and Cons of Martin Amis PDF Interview Interview with Charlie Rose of The Information Buckley Christopher 23 April 1995 The Inflamation New York Times p 73 Books section New York edition Retrieved 14 February 2010 Kakutani Michiko 2 May 1995 Raging Midlife Crisis As Contemporary Ethos New York Times p C17 New York edition Retrieved 14 February 2010 Sinclair Iain 25 March 1995 Confessions of a failed revenger The Independent London Archived from the original on 18 June 2022 Retrieved 14 February 2010 Quinn Anthony 25 March 1995 The Investment The Independent London Archived from the original on 18 June 2022 Retrieved 14 February 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Information novel amp oldid 1158013416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
