Girl, 20

Kingsley Amis

Jun 2011 · Penguin UK

About this ebook

Douglas Yandell, a young-ish music critic, is enlisted by Kitty Vandervane to keep an eye on her roving husband - the eminent conductor and would-be radical Sir Roy - as he embarks on yet another affair. Roy, meanwhile, wants Douglas as an alibi for his growing involvement with Sylvia, an unsuitably young woman who loves nothing more than to shock and provoke. Life soon becomes extremely complicated as Douglas finds himself caught up in a frantic, farcical tangle of relationships, rivalry and scandal.

Girl, 20 is a merciless send-up of 1970s London's permissive society from a master of uproarious comedy.

With a new introduction by Howard Jacobson.

About the author

Kingsley Amis' (1922-1995) works take a humorous yet highly critical look at British society, especially of the period following the end of World War II. Born in London, Amis explored his disillusionment with British society in novels such as THAT UNCERTAIN FEELING (1955). His other works include THE GREEN MAN (1970); STANLEY AND THE WOMEN (1984); and THE OLD DEVILS (1986) which won the Booker Prize. Amis also wrote poetry, criticism, and short stories.

Howard Jacobson, novelist and critic, was born in Manchester and studied at Cambridge under F R Leavis. Author of eleven novels, including Coming From Behind, The Mighty Walzer and Kalooki Nights, he is also the author of several works of non-fiction, including Roots Schmoots and Seriously Funny, both of which were made into television series. He writes a weekly column for the Independent. In 2010 he won the Man Booker Prize for The Finkler Question.