AN Oxford University student dubbed the new Martin Amis told today of his delight after landing a £200,000 book deal.

Richard Mason, 20, a first-year English undergraduate at New College, signed the lucrative two-book contract with Penguin Books this week, after submitting his first novel The Drowning People.

A former Eton pupil, his novel was initially rejected by the publishers but was accepted after he spent 14-hour days revising it.

German rights have also sold for a six-figure sum and bidding for the film rights has already topped the million dollar mark. By the end of the week, he could be worth more than £500,000.

His London literary agent, Curtis Brown, has labelled Mr Mason the new Martin Amis and Richard plans to celebrate his success by taking girlfriend Sophie Orde, 22, to Paris.

He has promised his tutors that he will continue to work hard for his degree, despite the added pressure of completing a second novel.

He said: "I look on the money as a gift that lets me carry on writing. After all, a writer can justify any disreputable excursion as a search for local colour."

Curtis Brown's Peter Robinson, who is acting as the student's agent, confirmed the deal, and said: "He is an extraordinary talent and we have interest coming in from across the world. Richard is one to watch for the future."

Martin Amis followed in the footsteps of his father Kingsley by having his novels published at a young age.

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