Oh how sad. David Lodge has died.

[MorrisZapp]

He gave me my name! The original and best campus novel writer. Vic Wilcox in Nice Work is my all time favourite fictional character, though Robyn Penrose gets points for scratching her backside through a long cotton nighty.

He was 89. Nice work Mr Lodge, and thank you.

Sad news indeed. I hope he had a great life as I loved Nice Work. It taught me about the English class system and how it's not all about money in the way we might imagine. I also remember the series - it was quite daring if I remember rightly. Perhaps they'll rerun it as a tribute!

Oh no.

Ginger, you're barmy.

The British Museum is falling down.

Nice work

I'm so sorry to hear this. David Lodge's work formed the soundtrack to my teens and twenties.

Rest in peace.

Aww that's so sad! I loved his books.

I was at Birmingham Polytechnic (UCE, now BCU) at the Perry Barr campus in the 1990s and the Baker building had paternoster lifts.
We often used to ride over the top if there was a big queue to go down from the 8th floor. It was dark but it just moved over to the side at the top before going back down again, we stayed upright and safe.

I didn't discover his books until after I'd left but the whole description of Rummidge really resonated with me.

He's very undervalued as a writer

Oh god, is that still there?! The stuff of nightmares....

A great writer.

and yes I remember the one in the Attenborough Building (although I don’t think it was called that when I was there) ... There was always a rumour that some joker had stayed in the lift as it went up, and quickly stood on his head, scared the life out of people who were waiting to get on.

Oh no that's sad, I've read all his books. Would be interesting to read them now, as society has changed so much. He always seemed like a lovely man.

I heard this on the news and thought I'd offer you condolences @MorrisZapp ..
I read most of his books long ago, I wonder how they've stood the test of time?

We visited the uni this year (DH and I met there and stayed for a double stint) - somewhat appalled they demolished the library! But they've still got those huts out towards the selly oak side.

Very sad , I loved his work and always smile when I see your user name @MorrisZapp !

Nice work was excellent , and I really loved Cheryl Summerbee in changing places .
Sometimes I wish self check in wasn’t a thing now and imagine the people at the check in desk placing passengers appropriately!

That sort of accident is impossible, fortunately. The Newcastle accident involved a car which left its guide rail at the top of its journey and forced the two cars ascending behind it into the winding room above, and one man was killed. Nevertheless, apparently the accident rate for Paternosters is unsurprisingly way higher than the rate for ordinary lifts.

Another one here who loved his novels and Malcolm Bradbury too.

RIP David.

Though you made academia sound more full of jolly shagging than it turned out to be, and a bloody paternoster lift cost me a job at Leicester once…

I don’t think I’ve reread Nice Work in about 20 years, but I remember Robyn teaching the industrial novel in Cossack boots, sitting on the loo rehearsing the plot of Hard Times, her friend Penny who only wore a bra to play squash (as otherwise her ‘bosoms would bounce from wall to wall faster than the ball’), Charles the boyfriend who has a ‘practiced forefinger’ for non-PIV sex, unlike Vic, who is a penetrative kind of guy, has a wife who is obsessed with their en suite, and likes Jennifer Rush’s ‘The Power of Love’.

Same here.
There was a paternoster lift in Sheffield University Arts Tower when I was there in the early 1980s, I used to enjoy going on it, a quick Google shows that it's still going strong.

I’ve also tried playing Humiliation, but everyone just kept ‘admitting’ to not having read The Man Without Qualities or Sohrab and Rustum or stuff like that — no one admitted to Hamlet!

has a wife who is obsessed with their en suite

Oh dear Lord. She'd be right at home on some MN threads with her loos, wasn't there a white one somewhere specifically for workmen?

Out of the Shelter was the first of his I read, followed rapidly by The British Museum is Falling Down and the campus novels. Highly influential in my late teens, this has inspired me to reread.

That’s so sad. RIP David Lodge. One of my favourite authors.

I mostly remember him for "Working with Structuralism". Now I can't believe I was ever bright enough to read it.

in his honour, I will work on my brain rot problem!

What a writer. I loved ‘The British Museum Is Falling Down’ even though half the literary references went over my head, and walking the Camino is on my bucket list thanks to ‘Therapy’. Definitely going to reread some of the campus novels too.

Yes, and it’s the only one Vic is allowed to move his bowels in, so the atmosphere of the en suite remains unpolluted! Vic thinks she’d wear a perfume called En Suite if someone made one…

Will dig one out tomorrow and read. Much enjoyed his work.

I loved his books and I always wanted to meet him. I remember crying with laughter when I read, The British Museum is Falling Down. I recently read his autobiography and really enjoyed it.

I was a huge fan of his books when I was a student but haven't thought about him for years. Very sad news.

So many of us harking back to our student days!
I thought I was so intellectual and intelligent reading these novels.

David Lodge provided a window into a very different world from the mining village I grew up in. I was less in awe when I went to university and could spot those people who he was writing about. He also reminded me how much fun books could be.

I loved the TV series, I had a lifelong crush on Haydn Gwynne.

Another fan heading for a reread in recognition of his talent.
I've just read December to honour Phil Rickman.

So sad, he was a terrific writer. I’ve cried laughing reading his books on many an occasion. I may have to reread Therapy now.

Sad news. I loved his books and still have every one I bought, starting with the campus novels.

Thanks to @Quinto for remembering the Humiliation game.

Excellent writer.