Martin Amis says new novel will get him 'in trouble with the feminists ...
Martin Amis says new novel will get him 'in trouble with the feminists ...
Martin Amis says new novel will get him 'in trouble with the feminists ...
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Mobile site Sign in Register Text larger · smaller About Us Today's paper ZeitgeistNews Sport Comment Culture Business Money Life & style Travel Environment TV Video Community Blogs JobsCultureBooks<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong><strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> <strong>says</strong> <strong>new</strong> <strong>novel</strong> <strong>will</strong> <strong>get</strong> <strong>him</strong> <strong>'in</strong><strong>trouble</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>feminists</strong>'Author expects criticism of The Pregnant Widow, but insists it's"actually a very feminist book" that shows how his sister fell victimto <strong>the</strong> sexual revolution(28)Tweet this (43)Search Books SearchAlison Floodguardian.co.uk, Friday 20 November 2009 15.09 GMTArticle historylarger | smallerBooks<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> · FictionCultureMore <strong>new</strong>sOn BooksLast 24 hoursMost viewed Zeitgeist Latest1. AS Byatt: 'I don'tbelieve in God. Ibelieve in WallaceStevens''I'm a gynocrat' ... <strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong>. Photograph: Juan <strong>Martin</strong> Misis/EPA<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong>'s <strong>new</strong> <strong>novel</strong> The Pregnant Widow <strong>will</strong> explore his belief that<strong>the</strong> apparent freedom of <strong>the</strong> sexual revolution actually placed hugepressure on women, <strong>with</strong> his late sister Sally one of its victims. Theauthor has written his sister – who died in 2000 after periods ofdepression and alcoholism – into <strong>the</strong> forthcoming book's storyline, andhas attributed many of her problems to <strong>the</strong> sexual revolution of <strong>the</strong> 60sand 70s."She was pathologically promiscuous. She really had <strong>the</strong> mental age ofsomeone who was 12 or 13 and I think she was terrified. I think what shewas doing was seeking protection from men, but it went <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r way,she was often beaten up, abused and she simply used herself up," <strong>Amis</strong>is reported by <strong>the</strong> Evening Standard to have told a London festivalaudience earlier this week."She died at <strong>the</strong> age of 46, not of anything sudden; she was one of <strong>the</strong>most spectacular victims of <strong>the</strong> revolution. It would have needed <strong>the</strong>Taliban to protect her."The Pregnant Widow <strong>will</strong> also include "a minor Islamic <strong>the</strong>me", he told <strong>the</strong>Epsom Guardian, which "has to do <strong>with</strong> how Muslims and Christiansseemed to be <strong>get</strong>ting on reasonably well and we had no idea that thismillennium old hatred would burst forward on [September 11]."<strong>Amis</strong> has previously come under fire over Islam, <strong>with</strong> Terry Eagletonaccusing <strong>him</strong> of views appropriate to a "British National Party thug"following <strong>Amis</strong>'s comment to a <strong>new</strong>spaper that "<strong>the</strong>re's a definite urge –don't you have it? – to say <strong>the</strong> Muslim community <strong>will</strong> have to suffer untilit <strong>get</strong>s its house in order".2. Ayn Rand fan spells out appreciation in world'slargest book ad3. Alexander <strong>the</strong> Great <strong>novel</strong> <strong>get</strong>s bum rap inCanada4. Truce called in battle over ebook rights5. James Patterson brings in $70m to becomeworld's highest-earning authorMore most viewedGuardian Books on TwitterLatest <strong>new</strong>s, views and links from <strong>the</strong> Guardian'sbooks teamSarah_Crown: RT @parisreview "At nightyou dream six dreams. But ARE <strong>the</strong>y sixdreams?" - Philip Roth's Paris Reviewinterview http://tpr.ly/dkPrPB #booksabout 3 hours, 35 minutes agoSarah_Crown: Couldn't agree more RT@brenstrong "This is <strong>the</strong> night mail" - WHAuden youtube.com/watch?v=zmciuK …feckin' great #booksabout 5 hours, 2 minutes agoSarah_Crown: RTing for users of <strong>the</strong>#books site: early c20th Russia in colour:amazing (via @andydickson,@ca<strong>the</strong>rineshoard) http://bit.ly/b9YfGlabout 1 day, 2 hours ago• Find more tweets from our books team• Follow our books team on a Twitter listconverted by Web2PDFConvert.com
He has been accused of misogyny in <strong>the</strong> past, but told <strong>the</strong> RichmondBook Now festival audience he was a feminist <strong>him</strong>self. "Women can't risefar enough to suit me," he said. "I'm a gynocrat – I'd like rule by women."The Pregnant Widow, described by its publisher as a tragicomedy,follows <strong>the</strong> lives of six young people spending a long, hot summer holidayin an Italian castle during <strong>the</strong> sexual revolution and <strong>the</strong> "sea change" of1970.<strong>Amis</strong> said he had been told it would <strong>get</strong> <strong>him</strong> "in <strong>trouble</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>feminists</strong>",but he insisted that it was actually "a very feminist book" and that "<strong>the</strong>yhaven't got a case".The title of <strong>the</strong> <strong>novel</strong>, which <strong>will</strong> be published in February 2010, is takenfrom <strong>the</strong> Russian intellectual Alexander Herzen, who said that after arevolution we are left <strong>with</strong> "not an heir but a pregnant widow"."In o<strong>the</strong>r words, revolution isn't a flip," said <strong>Amis</strong>. "It's a churning processthat goes on for a long time before <strong>the</strong> baby is born. It's not <strong>the</strong> instantreplacement of one order by ano<strong>the</strong>r."Printable version Send to a friend Share Clip Contact us Article historyThis week's bestsellers1. American Caesarsby Nigel Hamilton£25.002. It's All About <strong>the</strong> Bikeby Robert Penn £16.993. Red Menby John Williams £16.994. Finkler Questionby Howard Jacobson £18.995. Flavour Thesaurusby Niki Segnit £18.99Search <strong>the</strong> Guardian bookshopSearchAds by GoogleHow To Publish A BookPublish Your Book Today. Expert Support. Free Publishing Guide.www.AuthorHouse.comNovelExpert Reviews, Bestsellers & More. Find Your Next Book at Tar<strong>get</strong>.www.Tar<strong>get</strong>.com/BooksLiterature Study GuidesComplete & Detailed Guides to Over 3,500 Works of Literature.eNotes.com/Literature-GuidesRelated informationLatest reviewsEncounter: Es<strong>says</strong> byMilan KunderaMilan Kundera'sexhumed es<strong>says</strong> cast aspell <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir insightsinto creativity, writesGeoff DyerMore books reviewsOn Deception by HarryHoudiniElectric Eden:Unearthing Britain'sVisionary Music by RobYoungHuman Chain bySeamus HeaneyJohn L Williams: MissShirley BasseyBooks<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> · FictionCultureVideo (10min 23sec),<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> oneuthanasia1 Feb 2010:Video: Controversialauthor <strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> joins<strong>the</strong> Guardian book club todiscuss his 1991 <strong>novel</strong>Time's Arrow and isasked about his views oneuthanasiaMore video12 Jun 2010The Ask by Sam Lipsyte23 May 2010Is <strong>the</strong>re a <strong>new</strong> <strong>Martin</strong><strong>Amis</strong> to chart <strong>the</strong>coalition's flaws? | NickCohen17 Mar 2010Short is sweet when itcomes to fiction25 Feb 2010Letters: Ford, <strong>Amis</strong> and adance to <strong>the</strong> music oftimeGallery (14 pictures):<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong> at 6025 Aug 2009:<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Amis</strong>, <strong>the</strong> one-timeenfant terrible of <strong>the</strong>British literaryestablishment, turns 60today. Take a look at a lifein pictures of <strong>the</strong> authorof Money, London Fields,and Time's ArrowMore galleriesBestsellers from <strong>the</strong> Guardian shopLoose top socks by HJHallTwelve pairs (black,navy, grey and oatmeal)for only £24.99From: £24.99Visit <strong>the</strong> Guardian reader offers shopGreen & ethical shopping at Guardian ecostoreLatest <strong>new</strong>s on guardian.co.ukLast updated less than one minute agoNewsClegg <strong>says</strong> report calling bud<strong>get</strong> unfair is 'partial'Sport'I never hit <strong>him</strong>,' <strong>says</strong> Woods ex-wifeSponsored featuresUpload yourCVGet jobs byemailconverted by Web2PDFConvert.com
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