Yellow Dog by Martin Amis

 

Martin Amis uses the lives of several men to explore what passes for morality in a violent world.  There is Henry, king of England, married to a Queen who is in a coma and forced to give up his latest mistress.  He is facing a scandal from pictures of his fifteen year old daughter in the bath, pictures that he is being told will soon be released.  A novelist, Xan Meo, is attacked while out at a pub, causing him head injuries that change his entire personality.  There is a gang leader who calls for the attack on Xan because he mentioned his name in his latest book.  Then there is Clint, a journalist at a scandal sheet who practices yellow journalism; there is no limit to how far down he will go or what lies he will report.

Amis asks if morality has changed from a time before.  Is our time more violent?  More driven by scandal?  Has the role of men changed?  While he seems to come to the conclusion that we are facing a new reality, looking back I see nothing but violence and scandal, hardly a new environment.  Perhaps every generation thinks theirs is the most violent just as they think the young of their era are clueless and won't come to anything.  Has the male role changed and is it risible to think a man can protect his family?  When even the King of England is faced with his impotence in the face of scandal, the average man can hardly hope to do better.  But is the role changed or is there just new forms of attacks to be thwarted?

Martin Amis has gained prominence as one of Britain's most famous novelists and as the son of Kingsley Amis, a novelist from the generation before.  Martin's work has received two Booker nominations and this was one of them.  This novel was longlisted for the Booker in 2003.  The writing style is breezy and the characters seem to tumble from the pages.  This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.