Plot Summary

Lucky Jim

Kingsley Amis
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Lucky Jim

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1954

Book Brief

Kingsley Amis

Lucky Jim

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1954
Book Details
Pages

296

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1950s

Publication Year

1954

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis follows the misadventures of James "Jim" Dixon, a disheartened medieval history lecturer at a lesser-known university in the English Midlands, who, while striving to secure his academic position and form beneficial alliances with colleagues, endures various comedic setbacks and social blunders. The novel includes themes of emotional manipulation and references to a suicide attempt.

Humorous

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.9

33,557 ratings

64%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim is celebrated for its sharp wit and satirical take on academic life, resonating with readers for its humor and relatable characters. Critics praise its clever prose and engaging plot. However, some find its humor dated and occasionally mean-spirited. Overall, it remains a cornerstone in comic literature for its incisive social commentary.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Lucky Jim?

Readers who relish clever satire and academic farce will enjoy Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. Similar to fans of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited or Tom Sharpe’s Wilt, they will appreciate Amis's witty critique of university life and the bumbling yet relatable protagonist, Jim Dixon, navigating the absurdities of academia.

3.9

33,557 ratings

64%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Lucky Jim is Kingsley Amis's first novel, published in 1954, and is considered one of the pioneering works in the genre of the "campus novel," which explores the comedic and critical elements of academic life.

The novel was inspired by Amis's experiences as a lecturer at the University of Leicester, and its portrayal of the academic world reflects his satirical take on the British higher education system of the time.

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Lucky Jim was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 1955, which is given to authors under the age of 35 for a published work of fiction, drama, or poetry.

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Book Details
Pages

296

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1950s

Publication Year

1954

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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