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'Masterful' novelist David Lodge dies aged 89 | 'Masterful' novelist David Lodge dies aged 89 |
(32 minutes later) | |
David Lodge has been described as one of the Booker Prize's "most notable unwinners" | David Lodge has been described as one of the Booker Prize's "most notable unwinners" |
Author and critic David Lodge, best known for his Booker Prize-nominated comic campus novels Small World and Nice Work, has died at the age of 89. | Author and critic David Lodge, best known for his Booker Prize-nominated comic campus novels Small World and Nice Work, has died at the age of 89. |
In the books, the former literature professor satirised academic life, and both went on to be adapted for television. | In the books, the former literature professor satirised academic life, and both went on to be adapted for television. |
His other celebrated works included Changing Places and The British Museum is Falling Down, about a poor student who is distracted while attempting to write a thesis. | His other celebrated works included Changing Places and The British Museum is Falling Down, about a poor student who is distracted while attempting to write a thesis. |
His publisher Liz Foley said: "His contribution to literary culture was immense, both in his criticism and through his masterful and iconic novels which have already become classics." | His publisher Liz Foley said: "His contribution to literary culture was immense, both in his criticism and through his masterful and iconic novels which have already become classics." |
'One of the greats' | 'One of the greats' |
Her statement added: "He was also a very kind, modest and funny person and I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with him and had the pleasure of enjoying his wit and company over the course of his recent publications." | Her statement added: "He was also a very kind, modest and funny person and I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with him and had the pleasure of enjoying his wit and company over the course of his recent publications." |
His agent Jonny Geller remembered him as a "true gentleman" whose "social commentary, meditations on mortality and laugh-out-loud observations make him a worthy addition to the pantheon of great English comic writers". | His agent Jonny Geller remembered him as a "true gentleman" whose "social commentary, meditations on mortality and laugh-out-loud observations make him a worthy addition to the pantheon of great English comic writers". |
Publishing house Harvill Secker said he died peacefully with close family at his side. | Publishing house Harvill Secker said he died peacefully with close family at his side. |
A statement from his family said they were "very proud of his achievements and of the pleasure that his fiction, in particular, has given to so many people". | A statement from his family said they were "very proud of his achievements and of the pleasure that his fiction, in particular, has given to so many people". |
It was "interesting growing up with David Lodge as a father", his children recalled. | It was "interesting growing up with David Lodge as a father", his children recalled. |
"Colleagues from the University of Birmingham and writers from all over the world visited our home in Birmingham," they said. | "Colleagues from the University of Birmingham and writers from all over the world visited our home in Birmingham," they said. |
"Conversation over the supper table was always lively, our mother Mary very much held her own meanwhile David was ready with a reference book to look up something that was being disputed." | "Conversation over the supper table was always lively, our mother Mary very much held her own meanwhile David was ready with a reference book to look up something that was being disputed." |
'Superb social comedy' | 'Superb social comedy' |
Born and raised in London, Lodge published his first novel in 1960 but made his real breakthrough with Changing Places in 1975. | Born and raised in London, Lodge published his first novel in 1960 but made his real breakthrough with Changing Places in 1975. |
He won the Whitbread Book of the Year award in 1980 with How Far Can You Go?, about young Catholics and their response to the Vatican's policy on contraception. | He won the Whitbread Book of the Year award in 1980 with How Far Can You Go?, about young Catholics and their response to the Vatican's policy on contraception. |
Changing Places was followed by sequels Small World: An Academic Romance in 1984 and Nice Work in 1988, both of which earned Booker Prize nominations. | Changing Places was followed by sequels Small World: An Academic Romance in 1984 and Nice Work in 1988, both of which earned Booker Prize nominations. |
In 2018, the Times said, external Lodge was "probably the most distinguished novelist of his generation not to win it". | In 2018, the Times said, external Lodge was "probably the most distinguished novelist of his generation not to win it". |
"He has mined the great seams of frustrated ambition, bungled relationships and sexual disappointment to create superb social comedy," literary editor Robbie Millen wrote. | "He has mined the great seams of frustrated ambition, bungled relationships and sexual disappointment to create superb social comedy," literary editor Robbie Millen wrote. |
Lodge was made a CBE for services to literature | Lodge was made a CBE for services to literature |
In the same paper, Laura Freeman said: "His dons-off-the-leash novels are written in whirligig spirit: corridor creeping at literary conferences, mistaken identities, sexy twins, missed planes, scuppered plans." | In the same paper, Laura Freeman said: "His dons-off-the-leash novels are written in whirligig spirit: corridor creeping at literary conferences, mistaken identities, sexy twins, missed planes, scuppered plans." |
BBC Two's 1989 adaption of Nice Work included the first use of the word "clitoris" on prime time TV, Freeman noted. | BBC Two's 1989 adaption of Nice Work included the first use of the word "clitoris" on prime time TV, Freeman noted. |
Lodge wrote in his second memoir Writer's Luck that he regarded the move "as a feather in my cap". | Lodge wrote in his second memoir Writer's Luck that he regarded the move "as a feather in my cap". |
Listen: Bookclub with David Lodge | |
In 1992, Lodge published The Art of Fiction, an influential collection of essays on literary techniques citing classic examples from a wide range of writers including Henry James, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce. | In 1992, Lodge published The Art of Fiction, an influential collection of essays on literary techniques citing classic examples from a wide range of writers including Henry James, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce. |
Lodge's other books included Therapy, Deaf Sentence and A Man of Parts, and he was made a CBE in 1998 for services to literature. | Lodge's other books included Therapy, Deaf Sentence and A Man of Parts, and he was made a CBE in 1998 for services to literature. |
That came a year after he was honoured by France's Order of Arts and Letters. | That came a year after he was honoured by France's Order of Arts and Letters. |
Speaking at the Hay Festival in 2015, Lodge admitted that he was running out of ideas and he was now writing exclusively non-fiction. | Speaking at the Hay Festival in 2015, Lodge admitted that he was running out of ideas and he was now writing exclusively non-fiction. |
"Writers who begin early like I did probably reach their peak in their 40s or 50s," he said. "After that books become more of a struggle and take longer to write." | "Writers who begin early like I did probably reach their peak in their 40s or 50s," he said. "After that books become more of a struggle and take longer to write." |