Retroland

Peter Kemp is chief fiction reviewer for the Sunday Times. He is the author of books on Muriel Spark and H. G. Wells, editor of The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Quotations, and associate editor of The Oxford Companion to English Literature.

“Altogether, a stimulating and useful enterprise.”—Kevin Power, Irish Times“It is very possible that Peter Kemp is the best-read man in Britain.” —Ian Sansom, The Spectator“Peter Kemp has held the torch for fiction over many years—scrupulous, devoted to his favourite authors, and insightful about emerging talent.”—Edna O’Brien“An exhilarating gallop across the landscape of recent English-language fiction. You may not share all of Peter Kemp’s trans-genre enthusiasms, but you will certainly be awed by his omnivorous appetite and will come away with at least a dozen books you are now itching to read.”—Sebastian Faulks“Readable and enjoyable as well as informative. The sort of book that keen novel readers should buy and praise.”—Lindsay Duguid“No one knows more about fiction over the last 50 years than Peter Kemp. He has been a fearless and fiercely knowledgeable and entertaining critic for decades, and in this fascinating book he offers a completely original take on the modern novel—one that will completely change how we think about what we all have been reading.”—Andrew Holgate“A rich, vivid, and endlessly informative book, with an awe-inspiring command of detail.”—Leo Robson