Jake's Thing
Encyclopedia
Jake's Thing is a satirical novel written by Kingsley Amis
, first published in 1978 by Hutchinson
, and shortlisted for the Booker Prize that year.
The novel follows the life of Jacques 'Jake' Richardson, a fifty-nine-year-old Oxford don
who struggles to overcome the loss of his 'libido'. The book employs characteristic Amis wit and cutting social commentary such as Jake's comment that "the food wasn't much good and they were rather nasty to you, but then it cost quite a lot". It was written during Amis's rapidly souring marriage with Elizabeth Jane Howard
, and (perhaps as a result) is even more bitter than earlier novels. Other targets of Amis's brutal and cutting satire include transport and housing, doctors, modern psychology and the education system. Jake himself is satirised, as Amis steps back from his main protagonist and portrays a sad, grumpy old man, out of touch with his world, unable to function in social situations, paralysed by his prejudices. The novel ends with Jake discovering his loss of libido
was a physical issue, but he shows how he has given up on life, when he refuses the prescription which would treat his problems.
There are many strong parallels between Jake and Jim Dixon of Lucky Jim
, and Stanley of Stanley and the Women
Kingsley Amis
Sir Kingsley William Amis, CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, various short stories, radio and television scripts, along with works of social and literary criticism...
, first published in 1978 by Hutchinson
Hutchinson (publisher)
Hutchinson & Co. was an English book publisher, founded in 1887. The company merged with Century Publishing in 1985 to form Century Hutchinson, and was folded into the British Random House Group in 1989, where it remains as an imprint in the Cornerstone Publishing division...
, and shortlisted for the Booker Prize that year.
The novel follows the life of Jacques 'Jake' Richardson, a fifty-nine-year-old Oxford don
University don
A don is a fellow or tutor of a college or university, especially traditional collegiate universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in England.The term — similar to the title still used for Catholic priests — is a historical remnant of Oxford and Cambridge having started as ecclesiastical...
who struggles to overcome the loss of his 'libido'. The book employs characteristic Amis wit and cutting social commentary such as Jake's comment that "the food wasn't much good and they were rather nasty to you, but then it cost quite a lot". It was written during Amis's rapidly souring marriage with Elizabeth Jane Howard
Elizabeth Jane Howard
Elizabeth Jane Howard, CBE is an English novelist. She was previously an actress and a model.In 1951 she won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for her first novel, The Beautiful Visit...
, and (perhaps as a result) is even more bitter than earlier novels. Other targets of Amis's brutal and cutting satire include transport and housing, doctors, modern psychology and the education system. Jake himself is satirised, as Amis steps back from his main protagonist and portrays a sad, grumpy old man, out of touch with his world, unable to function in social situations, paralysed by his prejudices. The novel ends with Jake discovering his loss of libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
was a physical issue, but he shows how he has given up on life, when he refuses the prescription which would treat his problems.
There are many strong parallels between Jake and Jim Dixon of Lucky Jim
Lucky Jim
Lucky Jim is an academic satire written by Kingsley Amis, first published in 1954 by Victor Gollancz. It was Amis's first novel, and won the Somerset Maugham Award for fiction...
, and Stanley of Stanley and the Women