Here is an excerpt from a 20/20 transcript in which Martin Amis discusses his relationship with his father Kingsley Amis. I saw this about a decade ago in Ithaca with another friend who worshipped Amis. The segment was broadcast with Father’s Day in mind. Martin nails it, as always.

Happy Father’s Day, everybody!

Excerpt -

RITTER: (VO) After Kingsley’s death, Martin became entangled in resolving legal issues of his estate. One night in his sleep, he says he had a visit from his father. He read to me what he says was the hardest part of his book to write.

Mr. M. AMIS: That night my father came to me in a dream. He was all business. He came not as shade, but as envoy. He said nothing. And I felt he didn’t want to be touched. With gestures only, with looks, with pauses, he gave me to understand that I had all his trust in the prosecution of his wishes and in everything else. Because my wishes were his wishes and the other way around. ‘So, it was incredibly warming to see you, Dad, and why don’t you come more often like that as a messenger and not just as a shade whom I swamp and harass? It is incredibly warming to see you, but I didn’t really need the reassurance about your wishes, because my wishes are your wishes, and I am you, and you are me.’

RITTER: What did you feel when you–when you wrote that line?

Mr. M. AMIS: An emotional ruin, but, you know, strongly moved. But you are your dad. And your dad is you, basically. And that–that’s–that’s the essential fact.

RITTER: Is that true for all of us?

Mr. M. AMIS: It’s more especially true for me, perhaps. But for everyone, I think that’s universal. Even though we were two writers, we were most essentially just a father and a son.