Funny? Funny How?: I have mentioned the novel Lucky Jim, by Kingsely Amis, before. It is the seminal post-war comic satire. I have vowed to re-read it after looking over this comprehensive analysis of what made it funny, by Christopher Hitchens in The Atlantic. One of the lead characters in my next novel, which may one day actually see publication, was named after the lead character (and the other by the lead in different Kingsely Amis novel, Jake's Thing). That will give you an idea of how highly I think of Amis' work. Best line: "Amis managed in Lucky Jim (1954) to synthesize the comic achievements of Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse."

And yes, you can get a good Masterpiece Theatre interpretation of Lucky Jim on video, too.