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The Folks That Live on the Hill

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The Folks That Live on the Hill
Cover of first edition (hardcover)
AuthorKingsley Amis
Cover artistMatthew Cook
LanguageEnglish
GenreComedy novel
PublisherHutchinson
Publication date
1990
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages246 pp
ISBN0-09-1741378

The Folks That Live on the Hill is Kingsley Amis's twentieth novel,[1] published in 1990.[2]

The novel's protagonist Harry Caldecote, a retired librarian, lives in the fictional Shepherd's Hill area of North London, in fact Primrose Hill.[3] Harry is twice divorced and lives with his sister Clare. The novel describes the interaction of Harry's extended family, son Piers, brother Freddie, sister-in-law Desiree and Fiona and Bunty, who are relatives of his former wives, from the viewpoint of the principal characters.[4] Amis lampoons the attitudes and lifestyles of the North London chattering classes.[5]

Reception

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This work was compared favourably with Amis' Booker Prize-winning novel The Old Devils.[6] This late 20th century 'comedy of manners'[4] was described as 'cheerful and gregarious as a crowded saloon bar'.[4] It was also described as 'a pleasant, rambling, sometimes touching tale'.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Pritchard, William H. (July 1990). "The Folks That Live On The Hill". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Amis, Kingsley (18 April 1990). The folks that live on the hill. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-0-09-174137-2. OL 1625242M – via The Open Library.
  3. ^ Amis, Kingsley (1991). The Folks That Live on the Hill. Chivers. ISBN 9780745172552.
  4. ^ a b c Parrinder, Patrick (22 March 1990). "Uncle Kingsley". London Review of Books. Vol. 12, no. 6.
  5. ^ Lyons, Gene. "Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly.
  6. ^ "The Folks That Live on the Hill". Kirkusreviews.com.
  7. ^ "The Folks That Live on the Hill". Publishersweekly.com.