Great piece. I strongly recommend the Blakemore book - there's absolutely no love lost between him and Hall, and he's a fascinating figure. Not as bombastic and self-sabotaging as Hall, of course ...
The Amis reference has me intrigued, though I'm curious whether you're referring to Kingsley or Martin? Sounds like the former, but I haven't read so much of the latter as to know...
I was thinking of Lucky Jim, although it doesn't quite match bc Hall is very powerful and accomplished and not at all a schlemiel. That's the only Kingsley Amis I've read to be honest. But you know, that sort of hapless, beset-upon British protagonist.
Great piece. I strongly recommend the Blakemore book - there's absolutely no love lost between him and Hall, and he's a fascinating figure. Not as bombastic and self-sabotaging as Hall, of course ...
Bombastic is the word! I definitely will give it a read.
The Amis reference has me intrigued, though I'm curious whether you're referring to Kingsley or Martin? Sounds like the former, but I haven't read so much of the latter as to know...
I was thinking of Lucky Jim, although it doesn't quite match bc Hall is very powerful and accomplished and not at all a schlemiel. That's the only Kingsley Amis I've read to be honest. But you know, that sort of hapless, beset-upon British protagonist.