Deaf Sentence
David Lodge
Penguin Group USA
SUMMARY: The subject of enthusiastic and widespread reviews, David Lodges fourteenth work of fiction displays the humor and shrewd observations that have made him a much-loved icon. Deaf Sentence tells the story of Desmond Bates, a recently retired linguistics professor in his mid-sixties. Vexed by his encroaching deafness and at loose ends in his personal life, Desmond inadvertently gets involved with a seemingly personable young American female student who seeks his support in matters academic and not so academic, who finally threatens to destabilize his life completely with her unpredictableand waywardbehavior. What emerges is a funny, moving account of one mans effort to come to terms with aging and mortalitya classic meditation on modern middle age that fans of David Lodge will love.