Friday, November 18, 2005
The King’s English – Kingsley Amis
Who doesn’t enjoy robust and witty attacks on solecisms?
This is useful as a reference, sure, but there are more comprehensive and sober manuals around for that. It is as entertainment that The King’s English really excels. There is, of course, the oft-quoted distinction between berks and wankers – essentially, a berk is less fastidious than you are, a wanker more so. But this is full of elegant elucidation, much of it very funny. You read it, your eye snags on something, something you’ve never been quite sure about. You feel the fresh air of enlightenment as the covers are thrown back: you smile, braced. Then you put down the book, go about your business, forget the subtle distinction and snuggle back into the pleasant torpor of ignorance, primed for re-education.
The Correct Opinion on Kingsley Amis:
Lucky Jim is disappointing. The Old Devils is magnificent, and his finest novel. However, his best book may be The King’s English.
As with all opinions, neither the veracity of the statement nor your belief in it is important. That it is plausible and unusual is all.
|
Who doesn’t enjoy robust and witty attacks on solecisms?
This is useful as a reference, sure, but there are more comprehensive and sober manuals around for that. It is as entertainment that The King’s English really excels. There is, of course, the oft-quoted distinction between berks and wankers – essentially, a berk is less fastidious than you are, a wanker more so. But this is full of elegant elucidation, much of it very funny. You read it, your eye snags on something, something you’ve never been quite sure about. You feel the fresh air of enlightenment as the covers are thrown back: you smile, braced. Then you put down the book, go about your business, forget the subtle distinction and snuggle back into the pleasant torpor of ignorance, primed for re-education.
The Correct Opinion on Kingsley Amis:
Lucky Jim is disappointing. The Old Devils is magnificent, and his finest novel. However, his best book may be The King’s English.
As with all opinions, neither the veracity of the statement nor your belief in it is important. That it is plausible and unusual is all.
|
