Take a Girl Like You

Take a Girl Like You
Name	Take a Girl Like You
Author	Kingsley Amis
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Publisher	Gollancz
Release date	1960
Pages	320

Take a Girl Like You. It is a novel by the English author Kingsley Amis, first published in 1960. The work represents a significant shift in Amis's literary focus, moving from the comedic academic satire of his debut Lucky Jim to a more nuanced and somber examination of sexual morality and social change in post-war Britain. The narrative centers on the romantic and social struggles of its provincial heroine, exploring the clash between traditional values and the emerging permissive society of the late 1950s.

Plot summary

The story follows Jenny Bunn, a young schoolteacher from the North of England who moves to the Home Counties suburb of London. She rents a room in the home of Martha Thompson and becomes the object of desire for several local men, primarily the charming but predatory schoolmaster Patrick Standish. Jenny, holding onto her northern ideals of chastity and romantic love, navigates a series of parties, encounters, and manipulative schemes orchestrated by Patrick and his friend Graham McClintoch. The plot builds through a succession of social gatherings in locations like the local pub and a country house, where Jenny's resolve is continually tested. The narrative culminates in a controversial and bleak conclusion at Patrick's flat, where her principles are ultimately violated, leaving her future uncertain.

Characters

The central protagonist is **Jenny Bunn**, whose innocence and steadfast morals contrast sharply with the world she enters. **Patrick Standish** is the primary antagonist, a cynical and hedonistic teacher who views seduction as a game. His friend and rival, **Graham McClintoch**, is a more awkward but equally persistent suitor. **Martha Thompson**, Jenny's landlady, represents a weary, pragmatic view of relationships. **Julian Ormerod**, a wealthy and somewhat dissolute acquaintance of Patrick's, and his girlfriend **Anna le Page**, further populate the novel's social circle, embodying the aristocratic and bohemian facets of the changing era. Minor characters like **Dick Thompson** and various townspeople provide additional social context.

Themes and analysis

The novel is a penetrating study of the **sexual revolution** and the erosion of traditional courtship rituals. Amis contrasts Jenny's working-class virtue with the middle-class hypocrisy and predatory behavior of characters like Patrick, exploring themes of **male entitlement** and **female agency**. The setting in the suburbs of London acts as a microcosm of a Britain in transition, where old social norms are collapsing. Critical analysis often focuses on the book's ambiguous tone, blending Amis's characteristic satire with a growing **moral seriousness**. The ending is frequently interpreted as a critique of the permissive society, suggesting its promises of freedom are ultimately exploitative. The work also examines **provincialism** versus **sophistication**, and the **commodification of love**.

Publication history

*Take a Girl Like You* was first published in 1960 in London by the publishing house Gollancz. It was subsequently published in the United States by Harcourt, Brace & World. The novel has remained in print for decades, issued in numerous paperback editions by imprints like Penguin Books. It has been translated into multiple languages, including French, German, and Spanish, securing its place in the international canon of post-war British literature.

Critical reception

Initial reviews were mixed; some critics praised its sharp social observation and characterisation, while others found its plot sordid and its conclusion unduly pessimistic. Over time, its critical reputation has grown significantly. It is now regarded as one of Amis's major works, a crucial bridge between the comedy of Lucky Jim and the darker novels of his later career like The Old Devils. Scholars such as David Lodge and Zachary Leader have analysed it as a key text of its era, capturing the anxieties of the pre-Wolfenden period. It is frequently taught in university courses on the twentieth-century novel and continues to be the subject of academic essays regarding gender and social history.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted into a feature film in 1970, directed by Jonathan Miller and starring Hayley Mills as Jenny Bunn and Oliver Reed as Patrick Standish. The film, produced by Columbia Pictures, significantly altered the book's ending and tone, opting for a more conventional romantic resolution. This cinematic version received a tepid critical response and is often cited as an example of a flawed literary adaptation. To date, there has been no major television or radio adaptation by networks like the BBC, though the novel's dramatic structure and dialogue continue to make it a candidate for future dramatic reinterpretation.

Category:1960 British novels Category:Novels by Kingsley Amis