Martin Amis on his new book, Lionel Asbo: State of England (VIDEO).

Martin Amis on His New Novel, Lionel Asbo: State of England

Martin Amis on His New Novel, Lionel Asbo: State of England

Interviews with people who shape our culture.
Aug. 22 2012 3:44 PM

From Brooklyn With Bite

Now living in the U.S., novelist Martin Amis unleashes his latest satire of English society.

The title character of Martin Amis’ latest novel, Lionel Asbo, gets his name from an acronym used in the British criminal justice system that stands for “anti-social behavior order.”  And Asbo’s thuggish ways are at the center of a grim underclass world Amis conjures for his 15th work of fiction, a biting satire about the current state of England.

Amis is now living in New York, where he sat down recently with Slate’s Jacob Weisberg to talk about his new book and whether Brooklyn may figure into a future novel.

In Part 2 of Weisberg's interview, Amis offers his assessment of Mitt Romney. In the third segment, Amis explains why he believes pornography is changing not only sexuality but also human nature itself. And in the final portion, Amis offers reflections on the life and passing of his dear friend, Christopher Hitchens.

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