One stupendous starburst of wild brilliance SIMON SCHAMA Aphoristic & acutely provocative: a crash course in civilization J. M. COETZEE Organized from A through Z & containing over 100 essays Cultural Amnesia is the ultimate guide to the twentieth century. This is a beautiful book. James proves himself not only to be in possession of a towering intellect but a singular ability to communicate his passions Observer Witty insightful & unashamedly erudite the book is a superb miscellany of 20th-century cultural & political subjects The Sunday Times Over the past forty years James has been scribbling notes in the margins of the books he has read.. .and this is the result. Clever contentious & funny Guardian An eclectic journey through the 20th century as Clive James explores the careers of luminaries such as Charles de Gaulle & Charlie Chaplin Daily Express