“Murder considered as one of the fine arts.”
London Fields follows the intertwined lives of three central characters in a decaying, pre-millennial London. The narrator, Samson Young, is a terminally ill American writer who becomes obsessed with documenting the impending murder of Nicola Six, a femme fatale who has foreseen her own death. The other key figures are Keith Talent, a petty criminal and aspiring darts player, and Guy Clinch, a wealthy but naive upper-class man. Nicola manipulates both men, drawing them into her fatalistic game.
Early Chapters: Setting the Stage
The novel opens with Samson arriving in London and renting a flat from Mark Asprey, a shadowy figure. He becomes fixated on Nicola, who claims to know the exact date of her death. She seduces both Keith, a lowlife with violent tendencies, and Guy, a gullible philanthropist, setting them on a collision course. Keith dreams of darts glory, while Guy is trapped in a failing marriage.
Middle Chapters: Manipulation and Descent
Nicola orchestrates encounters with both men, feeding their desires while subtly pushing them toward violence. Keith, entangled in criminal schemes, grows increasingly unstable. Guy, infatuated with Nicola, becomes more isolated from his family. Samson observes and records everything, blurring the line between fiction and reality. The tension builds as Nicola’s predicted death looms closer.
Final Chapters: Climax and Revelation
As the millennium approaches, the characters spiral toward their fates. Keith’s criminal dealings escalate, Guy’s life unravels, and Nicola’s manipulations reach their peak. The novel culminates in a violent confrontation, though the true nature of Nicola’s death remains ambiguous. Samson, nearing his own end, reflects on the dark comedy of human desperation.
Key Ideas
- A darkly comic exploration of fate and free will.
- The destructive allure of manipulation and self-destruction.
- Satire of class, crime, and millennial anxiety.
- Blurring of fiction and reality through metafictional narration.
- The inevitability of decay, both personal and societal.
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | London Fields (film) | Starring Amber Heard, Billy Bob Thornton; poorly received. |
Who should read this book?
- Fans of dark humor and literary satire.
- Readers interested in postmodern fiction.
- Those drawn to morally ambiguous characters.
- Admirers of Amis’s sharp, stylized prose.