Martin Amis Represents a Problem: That Some of the Most Acclaimed and Privileged Writers in the English Language Fail to Engage with the Most Urgent Issues of Our Time

Pilger, John, New Statesman (1996)

On 1 June, the Guardian published along essay by Mar tin Amis, entitled "The voice of the lonely crowd". It was about 11 September and the role of writers. What did Amis think about on the momentous day? He thought he was "like Josephine, the opera-singing mouse in the Kafka story: Sing? 'She can't even squeak."'

By that he meant, I guess, that he had nothing to say about "the conflicts we now face or fear", as he put it. Why not? Where was the spirit of Orwell and Greene? Where was a modest acknowledgement of history: a passing reflection on the impact of rapacious great power on vulnerable societies, which are the roots of the current "terrorism"?

Amis referred rightly to the "pitiable babble" of writers following 11 September. Most of the famous names were heard, their contributions ranging from morose me-ism to an aggressive defence of America and its "modernity". Not a single English …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Martin Amis Represents a Problem: That Some of the Most Acclaimed and Privileged Writers in the English Language Fail to Engage with the Most Urgent Issues of Our Time. Contributors: Pilger, John - Author. Magazine title: New Statesman (1996). Volume: 131. Issue: 4592 Publication date: June 17, 2002. Page number: 13+. © Not available. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.