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This book firstly relies on the reader being first pernickity about the use of language, second grouchy and third susceptible to Amis' (by this stage familiarly comic) right-wing act. Although there is little doubt that Amis held his political views firmly, he also revelled in the avuncular role of the curmudgeon, and it is in this light that the book should be viewed. Published posthumously, The King's English (and an entry on the pun is included) sets out Amis' manifesto on the usage of the language. Any reading of his fiction will have shown preoccupation with the correct use of language. As befits an author so deft at writing comically realistic dialogue, this often appears in observations about the spoken word (for example, see the following exchange from Jake's Thing, between Jake and his new doctor: 'Now your trouble is that your libido [lib-eedo] has declined.' 'My what?' asked Jake, though he had understood all right. 'Your libido, your sexual drive.' 'I'm sorry, I'd be inclined to pronounce it lib-ighdo, on the basis that we're talking English, not Italian or Spanish, but I suppose it'll make for simplicity if I go along with you. So, yes, my lib-eedo has declined.' The book lists Kingsley's musings in alphabetical order. He distinguishes between those abusers of the language he describes with the popular expletives for one who engages in onanism, and a person of uncertain parentage, and he details his shibboleths by which to judge the standard of a person's English. (Incidentally, Microsoft Word wants to change the word 'onanism', which it underlines in red, to 'unionism.' In The King's English, Amis puts his case for the typewriter over the word-processor, but he may have appreciated the right-wing revisions of my Microsoft software.) The tone is light, and the author frequently on the wind up, but the book does serve as a way to steer between correct use and over-correct use (where the writer would be subject to ridicule). Not quite Fowler's English Usage, but an idiosyncratic, witty and as with everything Amis Senior, thoroughly entertaining addition to a reference shelf.
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