William Self is an English novelist, reviewer and columnist. He received his education at University College School, Christ's College Finchley, and Exeter College, Oxford. He was married to the late journalist Deborah Orr.
Self is known for his satirical, grotesque and fantastic novels and short stories set in seemingly parallel universes.
Imagine dear reader Will Self offering himself in print to Richard Branson in exchange for a lifetime of upgrades on Virgin railways and Virgin airline. If that strikes you as hilarious, then I might recommend this for you. If you were not, however, left in stitches there is still a considerable amount to appreciate in this tome of collected journalism. There is a wonderful travel piece on Orkney. There are interviews with Morrissey and Rushdie. There is also an interminable stream of restaurant reviews. Unfortunately Self's wordplay is too often drowned by the force of his satire. Self explains in the introduction that it is unfortunate that authors are usually shoe-horned into writing literary criticism rather than find other vistas. That is the case here--and it suffers. The confession column about Self's weakness for literary biography is a gem, though.
Columns about building design featuring the word “echt” quite frequently.
Restaurant reviews featuring the word “superannuated” quite frequently.
Articles on art and literature featuring the words “banjaxed” and “quondam” quite frequently.
Various radio pieces and assorted ad hoc commissions with many interesting words.
I tease: this is Self’s best book of journalism. He even mocks his own stylistic repetitions in the index. “Junk Mail” became tedious because Self was allowed to prattle. Here he’s short, punchy and hilarious.
Contains 129 columns over 381 pages. Will consume your life for a week or two.