Code | DS/UK/12792 |
Name | Amis; Sir; Kingsley (16 April 1922-22 October 1995); CBE; English novelist, poet, critic and teacher |
Variations of Name | Kingsley William Amis |
Dates | 16 April 1922-22 October 1995 |
Gender | Male (cisgender) |
Place of Birth/Origin | Clapham, London, England (born) |
Relationships | Son of of William Robert Amis (clerk for mustard manufacturer Colman's) and Rosa Annie Lucas Grandson of Joseph James Amis (wealthy glass merchant) and Julia Cousin of the John Amis (broadcaster) Former spouse of Hilary Bardwell and Elizabeth Jane Howard (novelist) Father of Martin Amis (novelist), Philip Amis (graphic desginer) and Sally Amis |
Biography | Sir Kingsley Amis CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts, and works of social and literary criticism. He is best known for satiric comedies such as One Fat Englishman (1963), Ending Up (1974), Jake's Thing (1978) and The Old Devils (1986). His biographer, Zachary Leader, called Amis "the finest English comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century." In 2008, The Times ranked him ninth on a list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. |