Two times Booker Prize nominated author, David Lodge dies at 89

David Lodge, a celebrated British novelist and critic famous for his comic, wit, and satire, and the insights he gave on academia, religion, and human experience, is no more. Lodge died at the age of 89, and according to his close friends and long time publishers, he was surrounded by family and friends in his last days.
Liz Foley, his publisher said - Lodge’s “contribution to literary culture was immense, both in his criticism and through his masterful and iconic novels, which have already become classics”. .
Lodge’s work was both acclaimed and relatable, and mixed in it sharp humour and a tinge of social commentary. One of his most famous works, the Campus trilogy that contained ‘Changing Places’, ‘Small World’, and ‘Nice Work’ was what brought him international fame and love. The books were set in the fictional Midlands city of Rummidge, which was inspired by the city of Birmingham where Lodge taught for decades, and poked fun at the quirks of academic life. Both ‘Small World’ and ‘Nice Work’ were shortlisted for the Booker Prize, which further strengthened his place as a master of comic fiction.

David Lodge was born on January 28, 1935, in Dulwich, South London, and had to see and experience the pains of wartime England. He was a devout Catholic during his youth, and his religion and faith was a part of his work.
After graduating from University College London, Lodge completed two years of national service, but soon realised that he was better off in academia, and his experience over there helped him write ‘Ginger, You’re Barmy’.
He began teaching English literature at the University of Birmingham in 1960 and eventually became a professor, a role he held until retiring in 1987 to focus on writing full-time.

Lodge did not just write novels, but also essays, plays, television scripts, and autobiographical works. His later years saw the release of ‘Deaf Sentence’, an emotional, but also humourous take on aging and his own hearing loss, and ‘A Man of Parts’, a biographical novel about H.G. Wells.
Later in life, Lodge was honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to literature, and he also received several awards from France’s Order of Arts and Letters.