That Uncertain Feeling

That Uncertain Feeling. It is the second novel by English author Kingsley Amis, published in 1955 following the enormous success of his debut, Lucky Jim. The story is a comic exploration of provincial life, social ambition, and marital dissatisfaction, set in a Welsh library. The novel further established Amis's reputation as a sharp and satirical chronicler of postwar British society and cemented his association with the literary movement known as the Movement.

Plot summary

John Lewis, the protagonist, works as a junior librarian in the dreary Welsh town of Aberdarcy, feeling stifled by his modest income and domestic life with his wife, Jean Lewis. His restlessness leads him into an affair with the glamorous and socially ambitious Elizabeth Gruffydd-Williams, the wife of a local councillor. The plot revolves around John's farcical attempts to navigate this entanglement, which include awkward encounters at the Gruffydd-Williams household and a disastrous fundraising event for the local Swansea repertory theatre. His misadventures culminate in a crisis of conscience, forcing him to choose between the allure of social climbing and the responsibilities of his family life, with the narrative concluding on an ambivalent note about his future.

Publication history

The novel was first published in 1955 in London by Victor Gollancz, who had also published Lucky Jim. It was released in the United States later that same year by Harcourt, Brace. The work appeared during a fertile period for Amis, who was also contributing poetry to anthologies like New Lines and establishing himself alongside contemporaries such as Philip Larkin and John Wain. Subsequent editions have been issued by publishers including Penguin Books and New York Review Books Classics, ensuring its continued presence in the canon of mid-twentieth-century British fiction.

Critical reception

Initial reviews were generally favorable, though critics often compared it unfavorably to the groundbreaking success of Lucky Jim. Commentators in The Times Literary Supplement and The Spectator praised its acute social observation and comic set-pieces. Some, however, found the protagonist less sympathetic than Jim Dixon. Over time, academic assessment, led by scholars like David Lodge and Zachary Leader, has elevated the novel's standing, recognizing its nuanced critique of class and its technical assurance. It is frequently analyzed in studies of postwar British literature, the novels of Kingsley Amis, and the ethos of the Movement.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted into a 1962 British film titled Only Two Can Play, directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Peter Sellers in the role of John Lewis. The screenplay was written by Bryan Forbes, and the film transposed the setting to the Swansea area, capturing the book's satirical tone. While the film enjoyed moderate success, it is often noted for Peter Sellers's performance. There have been no major television or stage adaptations, though the novel's themes have influenced subsequent comedies of manners in British cinema and theatre.

Themes and analysis

The novel is a pointed satire of the British class system and social pretension, dissecting the aspirations and hypocrisies of provincial life in towns like Aberdarcy. A central theme is marital fidelity and dissatisfaction, exploring the temptations and consequences of adultery against a backdrop of 1950s social mores. The work also examines the conflict between individual ambition and ethical responsibility, a common concern in the works of the Movement. Stylistically, it employs free indirect discourse and ironic narration to critique its characters, a technique Amis honed from authors like Jane Austen and which connects his work to that of Evelyn Waugh.

Category:1955 British novels Category:Novels by Kingsley Amis Category:British comic novels