David Mitchell or Martin Amis: who is the bitter writer?

One of the narrators in David Mitchells The Bone Clocks is a dead ringer for Martin Amis. Should we believe the author when he insists that the character is just an unflattering self-portrait?

David Mitchells The Bone Clocks has become one of the talking points of the literary year, and not just because this widely-tipped novel somehow didnt make it on to the Booker shortlist.

One of the most animated conversations revolves around Crispin Hershey, the fading wild child of British letters who narrates the rumbustiously satirical fourth section. Is he or is he not Martin Amis?

... its me. Its a really ungrounded, megalomaniac me, with all my worst aspects. [Hershey] says things that I have too much tact to say. Its the monster in the mirror If it is an association it is subconscious. I know I cant have the last word on how Im interpreted but I will have the last word on what I meant.

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