Writer's Luck by David Lodge
David Lodge’s frank and illuminating memoir about the years where he found great success as a novelist and critic. Luck plays an important part in the careers of writers. In this book David Lodge explores how his work was inspired and affected by unpredictable events in his life. In 1976 Lodge was pursuing a ‘twin-track career’ as novelist and academic. As a literary critic, he made serious contributions to the subject, before carnivalising it in his comic-satiric novel Small World. The balancing act between his two professions was increasingly difficult to maintain, and he became a full-time writer just before he published his bestselling novel Nice Work. Both books were shortlisted for the Booker Prize, in which he was later involved as Chairman of the judges. Readers of Lodge’s novels will be fascinated by the insights this book gives – not only into his professional career but also more personal experience. The main focus, however, is on writing as a vocation. Anyone who is interested in learning about the creative process, about the dual nature of the novel as both work of art and commodity, will find Writer’s Luck a candid and entertaining guide.
A wonderfully candid and insightful account of a writer's life: astute, unpretentious and humane-- William Boyd
A vivid picture of a lost world. -- Matthew Reisz * Times Higher Education *
One of the greatest storytellers in existence and a master of suspense… [Lodge] combines an analytical, scientific way of looking at life…with a vivid, poetic imagination… a uniquely honest record of a successful English novelist’s life. There is more truth about the literary life in this book than you will find in a thousand doctoral theses, or a million promotional interviews with famous writers. Or most memoirs. It is a true gem -- Eilís Ní Dhuibhne * Irish Times *
Irresistible… One of the fascinations of the memoir is the variety of critical techniques that are shown… this fleshed-out diary is curiously addictive -- Marina Vaizey * The Arts Desk *
An absorbing account… endearing, and…revealing… at no point…has [Lodge] betrayed his roots by giving in to the temptations of literary grandeur… authentic -- James Walton * Financial Times *
A vivid picture of a lost world. -- Matthew Reisz * Times Higher Education *
One of the greatest storytellers in existence and a master of suspense… [Lodge] combines an analytical, scientific way of looking at life…with a vivid, poetic imagination… a uniquely honest record of a successful English novelist’s life. There is more truth about the literary life in this book than you will find in a thousand doctoral theses, or a million promotional interviews with famous writers. Or most memoirs. It is a true gem -- Eilís Ní Dhuibhne * Irish Times *
Irresistible… One of the fascinations of the memoir is the variety of critical techniques that are shown… this fleshed-out diary is curiously addictive -- Marina Vaizey * The Arts Desk *
An absorbing account… endearing, and…revealing… at no point…has [Lodge] betrayed his roots by giving in to the temptations of literary grandeur… authentic -- James Walton * Financial Times *
David Lodge (CBE)’s novels include Changing Places, Small World and Nice Work (shortlisted for the Booker) and, most recently, A Man of Parts. He has also written plays and screenplays, and several books of literary criticism. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages.
He is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Birmingham, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781787300408 |
| ISBN 10 | 1787300404 |
| Title | Writer's Luck |
| Author | David Lodge |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Vintage Publishing |
| Year published | 2018-01-11 |
| Number of pages | 400 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |