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Where to start reading Martin Amis

Amis's impressive bibliography boasts 14 novels, a memoir, two collections of stories and eight collections of non-fiction. Here, we offer a guide to help you pick which Amis book to read first – or next.

Photo credit: Tom Craig at Bill Charles Agency | Image: Victoria Ford / Penguin

Once the enfant terrible of British literature, Martin Amis established himself as a mainstay: in 2008, he was named one of 50 best British writers since 1945; he’s been listed for the Booker Prize twice; and his influence has been noted by newer literary names like Zadie Smith and Will Self.

With 14 novels, a memoir, two collections of stories and eight collections of non-fiction to his name, Amis’s body of work can be a difficult one to navigate – which book should you read first? Here, we tend to the unpacking for you, identifying and contextualising the best and boldest books from an author known for them.

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