Lucky Jim
Lucky Jim is a comic
novel written by
Kingsley Amis, first published in
1954. It was his first novel, and won the
Somerset Maugham Award for fiction. Set sometime around 1950,
Lucky Jim follows the exploits of the titular protagonist James Dixon, a reluctant history lecturer at an
English university. The novel exemplifies the use of a precise but plain-spoken narrative voice.
Jim Dixon is not particularly dedicated to his job, having taken it to avoid schoolteaching, and unable to obtain work in any other field. Having made a particularly bad first impression in the history department, he is concerned about being fired, and seeks to hold his position by maintaining good relations with his superior, the tedious Professor Welch. He also attempts to get his article on historical shipbuilding methods published in a journal, without success.
Dixon is largely without tact and prudence, character traits exaggerated by his difficulty in accepting the pretension of Welch and others. The novel culminates in Dixon's lecture on "
Merrie England," which he gives in order to improve his standing in the department. The lecture goes horribly wrong as Dixon, under the influence of alcohol, uncontrollably begins to mock Welch and everything else he hates while giving the lecture; he finally goes into convulsions and passes out. Welch, of course, fires Dixon.
However, a wealthy Scottish business man who seems to have a tacit respect for Dixon's individuality and attitude towards pretension gives Dixon a good job in London that pays much better than his lecturing position. Jim finally has the last laugh as Christine, who had been engaged to Welch's son, decides to assume a relationship with him in London. The end of the book has Dixon and Christine bumping into the Welches on the street; Jim can't help but walk right up to them, with Christine on his arm, and exploding in laughter at how ridiculous they truly are.
In the
1957 British movie version (an adaptation of a stage play), which was produced and directed by twin brothers
John and
Roy Boulting, Jim Dixon was played by
Ian Carmichael. In a made-for-TV
remake of
2003 directed by
Robin Shepperd, the role was taken over by
Stephen Tompkinson.
