| The Folks That Live on the Hill | |
| Author: | Kingsley Amis |
| Cover Artist: | Matthew Cook |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Comedy novel |
| Publisher: | Hutchinson |
| Release Date: | 1990 |
| Media Type: | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages: | 246 pp |
| Isbn: | 0-09-1741378 |
The Folks That Live on the Hill is Kingsley Amis's twentieth novel,[1] published in 1990.[2]
The novel's protagonist Harry Caldecote, a retired librarian, lives in the fictional Shepherd's Hill area of North London, in fact Primrose Hill.[3] Harry is twice divorced and lives with his sister Clare. The novel describes the interaction of Harry's extended family, son Piers, brother Freddie, sister-in-law Desiree and Fiona and Bunty, who are relatives of his former wives, from the viewpoint of the principal characters.[4] Amis lampoons the attitudes and lifestyles of the North London chattering classes.[5]
This work was compared favourably with Amis' Booker Prize-winning novel The Old Devils.[6] This late 20th century 'comedy of manners'[4] was described as 'cheerful and gregarious as a crowded saloon bar'.[4] It was also described as 'a pleasant, rambling, sometimes touching tale'.[7]