From biting satire to experimental fiction, Alex Peake-Tomkinson highlights the author’s most impactful works.

Martin Amis, known for his razor-sharp wit and dark observations, left an indelible mark on literature. Below are five of his most renowned works that showcase the breadth of his talent, each offering a unique glimpse into the complexities of human nature.

1. Experience (2000)
Amis’s first memoir, Experience, stirred much debate, with some critics more focused on the author’s personality than the content. Yet, despite the buzz around Amis’s image, the book offers a poignant exploration of his relationship with his father, the late Kingsley Amis, and the traumatic disappearance of his cousin, Lucy Partington, murdered by Fred West. It also delves into more personal aspects of his life, including his dental troubles and tribute to his stepmother, Elizabeth Jane Howard, who played a significant role in his literary journey.

2. London Fields (1989)
Arguably Amis’s most misanthropic novel, London Fields follows Nicola Six, a woman who plans her murder on her 35th birthday, in a city rife with corruption and nihilism. While often labelled as a postmodern murder mystery, its allure lies not in the plot but in its unsettling atmosphere and character studies. The 2018 film adaptation, starring Amber Heard, failed to live up to the book’s dark allure, but the novel remains a literary highlight.

3. Money (1984)
Money captures the hedonism and excesses of the 1980s through the eyes of John Self, an advertising executive addicted to indulgence. His chaotic life, filled with drugs, alcohol, and porn, becomes a reflection of a society obsessed with excess. For fans of Amis’s humour, Money is a high-octane ride, especially the hilarious yet disastrous tennis match involving Self. A character named Martin Amis also makes a cameo, offering a sardonic self-reflection on his own persona.

4. The Rachel Papers (1973)
Amis’s debut novel, The Rachel Papers, showcases his raw comedic brilliance at just 24 years old. The protagonist, Charles Highway, attempts to seduce a girl named Rachel as his 20th birthday approaches. Although the novel contains some cringe-worthy moments—particularly in its explicit descriptions—it remains a great introduction to Amis’s early exploration of love, lust, and youthful exuberance. The 1989 film adaptation, starring Dexter Fletcher, captures the essence of Amis’s wit.

5. Time’s Arrow (1991)
One of Amis’s most acclaimed works, Time’s Arrow is a novel that flips conventional narrative on its head by telling the story of the Holocaust in reverse. Though some critics considered the backward storytelling a gimmick, the novel remains a powerful meditation on the impact of historical tragedies. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, it demonstrates Amis’s ability to blend historical misery with profound literary innovation, a technique he would revisit in later works like The House of Meetings (2006).