Kingsley Amis was a highly respected author, poet, and critic, regarded as one of the greatest comic novelists of the twentieth century. The Times listed him as the ninth greatest British writer since 1945. Amis was born in Clapham, London on April 16, 1922, and was raised in Norbury, where he attended the London City School. He later received a scholarship to study English at St John's College, Oxford, where he formed a close friendship with poet Philip Larkin. During his time at Oxford, Amis also became a member of the Communist Party for a brief period.
Amis' writing career was prolific and varied, encompassing over 20 novels, numerous short stories, six poetry volumes, scripts for television and radio, and literary and social criticism works. His best-known novels include "Lucky Jim" (1954) and "The Old Devils" (1986), which won the Booker Prize. In addition to his writing, Amis was also a well-known critic, teacher, and poet. He was ranked at the 9th position in the list of top 50 greatest writers of England since 1945 by The Times in 2008.
Amis married Hilary Baldwin in 1948, and the couple had three children together, including renowned writer Martin Amis. Amis' personal life was marked by his struggles with alcoholism and multiple marriages. Despite these challenges, Amis continued to write and publish works throughout his life, earning critical acclaim and a lasting legacy as one of the greatest comic novelists of the twentieth century. He passed away on October 22, 1995, but his work continues to be celebrated and studied by scholars and readers alike.