Kingsley Amis, in a 40-year writing career which began with "Lucky Jim", has produced more than 20 novels, several collections of poetry and countless other writings. He is a controversial figure, a Communist in his youth, an "Angry Young Man" in his 30s, he is now often seen as the epitome of the choleric right-wing clubman. In this biography, Eric Jacobs delves deep into Amis's life, revealing the man behind the literature, his early childhood in south London, his school and university life, his marriages and his novels. It is a compelling study of the man and his work, revealing Amis to be a more fascinating, driven and complex man than the stereotype suggests.