Deaf Sentence
Deaf Sentence by David Lodge, published by Penguin Books in 2009, offers a humorous and poignant exploration of one man’s struggle with deafness, aging, and the complexities of human relationships. This edition spans 308 pages and presents a narrative centered on Professor Desmond Bates, who, after taking early retirement due to departmental changes at his university, grapples with a sense of loss and disconnection from his former academic life. As he navigates the challenges of his wife’s successful career and his own deteriorating hearing, the story unfolds with both comedic and tragic elements.
Readers will find a rich depiction of Desmond’s daily life, marked by the monotony of retirement and the burdens of familial responsibilities, particularly concerning his elderly father. The narrative delves into the social and domestic tensions that arise from his hearing loss, leading to misunderstandings and awkward situations. Additionally, Desmond’s interactions with a young woman, whose unpredictable behavior complicates his already strained existence, add further depth to the story. This blend of humor and reflection on mortality and human connection makes Deaf Sentence a thoughtful examination of life’s challenges.
Official synopsis Publisher
Funny and moving by turns, Deaf Sentence is a witty, original and absorbing account of one man’s effort to come to terms with deafness, ageing and mortality, and the comedy and tragedy of human lives.
When the university merged his Department of English with Linguistics, Professor Desmond Bates took early retirement, but he is not enjoying it. He misses the routine of the academic year and has lost his appetite for research. His wife Winifred’s late-flowering career goes from strength to strength, reducing his role to that of escort, while the rejuvenation of her appearance makes him uneasily conscious of the age gap between them. The monotony of his days is relieved only by wearisome journeys to London to check on his aged father who stubbornly refuses to leave the house he is patently unable to live in with safety.
But these discontents are nothing compared to the affliction of hearing loss — a constant source of domestic friction and social embarrassment, leading Desmond into mistakes, misunderstandings and follies. It might be comic for others, but for the deaf person himself, it is no joke. It is his deafness which inadvertently involves Desmond with a young woman whose wayward behaviour threatens to destabilize his life completely.
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