Is London Fields a True Story?

By Alice Nichols

London Fields is a novel written by Martin Amis and was published in 1989. The book is a dark and complex story that explores the life of Nicola Six, a clairvoyant femme fatale who is waiting to be murdered.

The book has been adapted into a movie, which has raised questions about its authenticity. Is London Fields a true story? Let’s find out.

The Plot

London Fields is set in the year 1999 in London, England, and follows the life of Nicola Six. She knows that she will be murdered on November 5th, 1999. Nicola Six tells this to the three potential murderers: Keith Talent, Guy Clinch, and Samson Young.

Nicola Six is also involved in a love triangle with Keith Talent and Guy Clinch. Keith Talent is a low-life criminal who wants to use Nicola as his muse for his darts career. Guy Clinch is an upper-class banker who falls in love with Nicola at first sight.

The Author

Martin Amis is a British author who has written several novels such as Money (1984), Time’s Arrow (1991), and The Information (1995). He was born on August 25th, 1949, in Swansea, Wales. He studied at Oxford University and went on to become an editor for the New Statesman magazine.

Amis has stated that London Fields was partly inspired by Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment (1866). He wanted to explore the themes of morality and justice through the story of Nicola Six.

The Movie

The London Fields movie adaptation was released in 2018 and directed by Mathew Cullen. The film stars Amber Heard as Nicola Six, Jim Sturgess as Keith Talent, Billy Bob Thornton as Samson Young, and Theo James as Guy Clinch.

The movie has faced controversy due to its troubled production. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 but was not released until three years later. It was also met with negative reviews from critics, who criticized it for being confusing and poorly paced.

Conclusion

In conclusion, London Fields is a work of fiction written by Martin Amis. Although the story is set in the real city of London, the characters and events are purely fictional. The book explores themes such as morality, justice, and human nature through the complex character of Nicola Six.

The movie adaptation may not have lived up to expectations, but it has brought attention to the novel once again. If you’re interested in reading a dark and thought-provoking book, then London Fields might be worth checking out.