Once he'd looked into it, Amis concluded that if any of his family came down with an ailment, it would be "far simpler and thriftier" for all four of them to fly first class to London, book four limousines, check into the Savoy and visit the NHS.
He was soon embroiled in American healthcare, as he helped his friend, the writer Christopher Hitchens, undergo treatments for oesophageal cancer. Hitchens' long medical ordeal is recorded in Inside Story, Amis' 2020 novel in which the principal characters included Amis and Hitchens.
In the US, he watched Hitchens (aka the Hitch) go through elaborate and gruelling treatments. He wrote about it in brilliant and moving detail, and then he must, not long after publishing, have received the same cancer diagnosis. He would have known exactly what he was in for. In Inside Story, he effectively wrote about his own death.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 10-16 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 10-16 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.