Product Description

This omnibus lines up David Lodge’s trio of brilliantly comic novels that revolve around the University of Rummidge and the lives of its role-swapping academics. When Philip Swallow, lecturer in English at Rummidge, changes places with flamboyant Morris Zapp of Euphoric State University, USA, trouble ensues. Then, ten years on, older but not noticeably wiser, they are let loose on the international conference circuit - a veritable academic carnival. And finally, Dr Robyn Penrose becomes part of a scheme to learn about industry instead of reading about it, with hilarious results. David Lodge exposes the dizzy pursuit of knowledge – literary, commercial, romantic and erotic – with unparalleled wit and insight.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39718 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 912 pages

About the Author
David Lodge has written many bestselling novels, including THINKS and NICE WORK. His books have sold well over a million copies in Penguin. Formerly Professor of English at Birmingham University, he now writes full-time. He continues to live in Birmingham.

Customer Reviews

The Best of the Campus Novel Genre
Whether you are new to David Lodge, or whether you are familiar with his other works, this trilogy is a must for every reader. No small book collection or vast library is complete without it.

Lodge's trilogy spans three decades of the 'international [university] campus'. In Phillip Swallow and Morris Zapp, we see two central characters who are poles apart professionally and personally and yet drawn together time and time again with hilarious and sometimes chaotic results.

Lodge demonstrates his knack of telling a good yarn and makes writing the contemporary novel appear effortless. If, like me, you thoroughly enjoy this collection you will probably go on to read his many other novels or critical works.

David Lodge is one of England's most talented and brilliant living writers and this trilogy is one of his best works. It is simply first rate. Just read it.

Mad professors fly around
Anyone who's ever read other Lodge novels (and especially How far can you go? or The British Museum is falling down) will immediately recognize the unique style Lodge applies in his writing. Lodge is an avid observer of the ever-changing environment people live in and as he is a member of the scientific circles of the society, he focuses on this aspect of human existence. The Trilogy with its three novels reveals the usually unexposed facets of university life, but Lodge does that in the most entertaining manner. Without presenting summaries of plots of the individual stories, let it suffice to say that each of them is separate in their developments, however, the fates of the main heroes are intertwined in all three of them, so when reading the second or the third novel, there will be moments in which references will be made to events in the other(s). I would heartily recommend the Trilogy to anyone who wishes to spend a few hours a day taking a laughable read about "mad" university teachers. If one has ever been to a university, these stories will stir those happy memories of youth well spent, or youth wasted (depending on how one views that), but will certainly not leave one feel indifferent.

Mad professors fly abundantly
Anyone who's ever read other Lodge novels (and especially How far can you go? or The British Museum is falling down) will immediately recognize the unique style Lodge applies in his writing. Lodge is an avid observer of the ever-changing environment people live in and as he is a member of the scientific circles of the society, he focuses on this aspect of human existence. The Trilogy with its three novels reveals the usually unexposed facets of university life, but Lodge does that in the most entertaining manner. Without presenting summaries of plots of the individual stories, let it suffice to say that each of them is separate in their developments, however, the fates of the main heroes are intertwined in all three of them, so when reading the second or the third novel, there will be moments in which references will be made to events in the other(s). I would heartily recommend the Trilogy to anyone who wishes to spend a few hours a day taking a laughable read about "mad" university teachers. If one has ever been to a university, these stories will stir those happy memories of youth well spent, or youth wasted (depending on how one views that), but will certainly not leave one feel indifferent.