Eating People Is Wrong — Malcolm Bradbury

In his brilliant first novel Malcolm Bradbury tilts gaily at the liberal pose and extracts a mass of fun from the provincial university where the story is set. The denizens of the English Department leave us gasping. Here is sensitive Mr. Eborebelosa, of Africa, who locks himself for long periods in lavatories; grotesque Louis Bates, hovering between working-class genius and time-honoured madness; sweet Emma Fielding, engaged on a thesis about the fish-imagery in Shakespeare's tragedies; and many more. Over them trembles the figure of Professor Treece, too fogged by his liberal ideals to be a Lucky Jim; he is earnest, honest, and ineffectual, and the grass grows nicely under his feet.
"The funniest thing I've read this year" - Daily Telegraph
"A really important first novel" - Sunday Times