The King's English

<p>An indispensable companion for readers, writers, and even casual users of the language, the Penguin Modern Classics edition of Kingsley Amis's <i>The King's English </i>features a new introduction by Martin Amis.<br><br><i>The King's English </i>is Kingsley Amis's authoritative and witty guide to the use and abuse of the English language. A scourge of illiteracy and a thorn in the side of pretension, Amis provides indispensable advice about the linguistic blunders that lie in wait for us, from danglers and four-letter words to jargon and even Welsh rarebit. If you have ever wondered whether it's acceptable to start a sentence with 'and', to boldly split an infinitive, or to cross your sevens in the French style, Amis has the answer - or a trenchant opinion. By turns reflective, acerbic and provocative, <i>The King's English </i>is for anyone who cares about how the English language is used.<br><br>Kingsley Amis (1922-1995), born in London, wrote poetry, criticism, and short stories, but is best remembered as the novelist whose works offered a comic deconstruction of post-war Britain. Amis explored his disillusionment with British society in novels such as <i>Lucky Jim</i> (1954) and <i>That Uncertain Feeling</i> (1955); his other works include <i>The Green Man</i> (1970) <i>Stanley and the Women</i> (1984), and <i>The Old Devils</i> (1986) which won the Booker Prize.<br><br>If you enjoyed <i>The King's English</i> you might like Amis's <i>Lucky Jim,</i> also available in Penguin Modern Classics.<br><br>'A terrific book ... learned, robust, aggressive, extremely funny'<br>Sebastian Faulks</p> <p>An indispensable companion for readers, writers, and even casual users of the language, the Penguin Modern Classics edition of Kingsley Amis's <i>The King's English </i>features a new introduction by Martin Amis.<br><br><i>The King's English </i>is Kingsley Amis's authoritative and witty guide to the use and abuse of the English language. A scourge of illiteracy and a thorn in the side of pretension, Amis provides indispensable advice about the linguistic blunders that lie in wait for us, from danglers and four-letter words to jargon and even Welsh rarebit. If you have ever wondered whether it's acceptable to start a sentence with 'and', to boldly split an infinitive, or to cross your sevens in the French style, Amis has the answer - or a trenchant opinion. By turns reflective, acerbic and provocative, <i>The King's English </i>is for anyone who cares about how the English language is used.<br><br>Kingsley Amis (1922-1995), born in London, wrote poetry, criticism, and short stories, but is best remembered as the novelist whose works offered a comic deconstruction of post-war Britain. Amis explored his disillusionment with British society in novels such as <i>Lucky Jim</i> (1954) and <i>That Uncertain Feeling</i> (1955); his other works include <i>The Green Man</i> (1970) <i>Stanley and the Women</i> (1984), and <i>The Old Devils</i> (1986) which won the Booker Prize.<br><br>If you enjoyed <i>The King's English</i> you might like Amis's <i>Lucky Jim,</i> also available in Penguin Modern Classics.<br><br>'A terrific book ... learned, robust, aggressive, extremely funny'<br>Sebastian Faulks</p>