In The New Republic Martin Amis offers what's billed as An unfond farewell to England (and, especially, surely, the British media), in He's Leaving Home, as he whinges about discusses the relationship between the press/media and littérateurs such as himself (looking back also to the good old more innocent times (and those wonderful £250 advances)).
Apparently, also:
I'm also puzzled by these defensive contortions (could he kowtow any more obsequiously (and preposterously) to the English, with their: "literary tradition of unparalleled magnificence", etc. ?) -- but certainly no more proof is needed that he hasn't been able to leave England behind him, or forget about those nasty British journalists. I also dread the fact that it's another two weeks before the official US launch date for Lionel Asbo, meaning the Amis-appearances on the pages of all and sundry publications are just beginning ..... (I now see Malcolm Forbes profiled him in The Washington Times yesterday -- and begins the piece, hilariously, by noting that: "Martin Amis is a decidedly reluctant interviewee, a publicist at Knopf had warned". True, the media no doubt clamor for any Amis-interaction they can get, which helps explain what seems to be his omnipresence in every last rag, but I can't think of any author who plays along (by actively participating) so readily.)
Apparently, also:
When I and my wife, who is a New Yorker, entrained the epic project of moving house, from Camden Town in London to Cobble Hill in Brooklyn, I took every public opportunity to make it clear that our reasons for doing so were exclusively personal and familial, and had nothing to do with any supposed dissatisfaction with England or the English people (whom, as I truthfully stressed, I have always admired for their tolerance, generosity, and wit). Backed up by lavish misquotes together with satirical impersonations ("cod" interviews and the like), the impression given was that I was leaving because of a vicious hatred of my native land and because I could no longer bear the well-aimed barbs of patriotic journalists.Granted, I only saw what was available on the Internet, but that certainly wasn't my impression; regardless, you'd think that by now he'd be experienced enough to know that misquotes are par for the course and that, where possible, journalists (and bloggers) invariably try to put the most outrageous spin on any and all of his statements (and, let's face it, few make it easier, what with the stuff he spouts). What always baffles me about this guy is not what he takes "every public opportunity" to do, but rather that he feels so perversely compelled to take "every public opportunity". I'm not a big fan of the author as public figure under any circumstances, but the author as this kind of public figure, elbowing his way onto every stage (and every magazines' pages ...), all the while posing like he's the one being put out by all this 'unwanted' attention ... well, it hardly can get more annoying.
I'm also puzzled by these defensive contortions (could he kowtow any more obsequiously (and preposterously) to the English, with their: "literary tradition of unparalleled magnificence", etc. ?) -- but certainly no more proof is needed that he hasn't been able to leave England behind him, or forget about those nasty British journalists. I also dread the fact that it's another two weeks before the official US launch date for Lionel Asbo, meaning the Amis-appearances on the pages of all and sundry publications are just beginning ..... (I now see Malcolm Forbes profiled him in The Washington Times yesterday -- and begins the piece, hilariously, by noting that: "Martin Amis is a decidedly reluctant interviewee, a publicist at Knopf had warned". True, the media no doubt clamor for any Amis-interaction they can get, which helps explain what seems to be his omnipresence in every last rag, but I can't think of any author who plays along (by actively participating) so readily.)