It was such a pleasure to revisit this wonderful academic satire that has comfortably stood the test of time. Read in homage to the recent passing of Lodge, Small World is arguably his best novel. If anything, I got more from reading it on this occasion versus previously. A lot of the references and jokes about authors and literary concepts, especially structuralism, may be lost on a less experienced reader. This is, however, not to diminish anything that Lodge does in this novel. His achievement is to create a highly compelling page-turner that fuses campus novel with a classic romantic quest. It takes an academic, per Lodge, to successfully satirise the whole community, their pomposity and overbearing sense of self-importance. The global nature of travel, the constant circuit, its highs and lows, also resonates clearly with my own experience. That this world is, can be, small, both literally and metaphorically, is captured superbly by Lodge. Reread well worth it. 10/10.
By David Lodge