David Lodge Books

Human consciousness, long the province of literature, has lately come in for a remapping - even rediscovery - by the natural sciences, driven by developments in Artificial Intelligence, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. But as the richest record we have of human consciousness, literature, David Lodge suggests, may offer a kind of knowledge about this phenomenon that is complementary, not opposed, to scientific knowledge. Writing with characteristic wit and brio, and employing the insight and acumen of a skilled novelist and critic, Lodge here explores the representation of human consciousness in fiction (mainly English and American) in the light of recent investigations in cognitive science, neuroscience, and related disciplines. How, Lodge asks, does the novel represent consciousness? And how has this changed over time? In a series of interconnected essays, he pursues this question down various paths: how does the novel's method compare with that of other creative media such as film? How does the consciousness (and unconscious) of the creative writer do its work? And how can criticism infer the nature of this process through formal analysis? In essays on Charles Dickens, E.M. Forster, Evelyn Waugh, Kingsley and Martin Amis, Henry James, John Updike and Philip Roth, and in reflections on his own practice as a novelist, Lodge brings to light - and to engaging life

'One of the very best English comic novelists of the post-war era' - "Time Out." Three brilliantly comic novels revolving around the University of Rummidge and the eventful lives of its role-swapping academics.

A collection of essays on writers and writing by the Booker-shortlisted novelist and critic.Writing about real lives takes various forms, which overlap and may be combined with each other: biography, autobiography, biographical criticism, biographical fiction, memoir, confession, diary.

Reprint. Originally published: London: E. Arnold, 1977.

Now including a new introduction from the author, this major work from one of England's finest living writers is essential reading for all those who care about the creation and appreciation of literature.

When Phillip Swallow and Professor Morris Zapp participate in their universities' Anglo-American exchange scheme, the Fates play a hand, and each academic finds himself enmeshed in the life of his counterpart on the opposite side of the Atlantic. Nobody is immune to the exchange.

Featuring a new introduction from the author, this significant work delves into the intricacies of literature, making it a vital read for anyone passionate about its creation and appreciation. Renowned as one of England's finest contemporary writers, the author offers profound insights that enrich the understanding of literary art.

In 2004, Henry James featured as a character in no less than three novels - David Lodge's Author, Author was one of them. With insightful and amusing candour, here he traces the history of his book from conception to publication, pondering the mystery - and indeed the anguish - of so many novels about James appearing at the same time.

Set in the academic world, this collection features three humorous novels that explore the complexities of university life. In Changing Places, British lecturer Philip Swallow and American Morris Zapp swap roles, navigating cultural clashes in the late sixties. Small World follows their misadventures at international conferences, introducing a colorful ensemble of characters. Nice Work presents Dr. Robyn Penrose, who finds herself at odds with a local business director, highlighting the tensions between differing ideologies and lifestyles.

In a career spanning six decades, David Lodge has been one of Britain's best-loved and most versatile writers. With Varying Degrees of Success he completes a trilogy of memoirs which describe his life from birth in 1935 to the present day, and together form a remarkable autobiography. His aim is to describe honestly and in some detail the highs and lows of being a professional creative writer in several different genres: prose fiction, literary criticism, plays for live theatre and screenplays for film and television. Few writers have excelled in so many different forms of the written word. Lodge's creativity, and his wonderful sense of humour, have made his work popular in translation in numerous countries, and his extensive travels around the world are recorded here. Each of the three memoirs has its own thematic focus. In this latest one it is on the hope and desire of writers to make a significant and positive impression on their readers and audiences. The elation of success, and the depression that follows disappointment, are familiar emotions to most writers in varying degrees. David Lodge describes these feelings with rare candour. Varying Degrees of Success provides the reader with a privileged insight into the working practices and the creative life of a major British novelist.