Frank Kermode
Frank Kermode arrived in Douglas on the Isle of Man during November 1919. His father John Pritchard Kermode worked as a delivery truck driver and warehouseman for a ferry company. The family lived with extremely modest means while struggling to maintain a precarious standard of life. Doris Pearl, his mother, had been a waitress before marriage. She came from a farm girl background that contrasted sharply with their current poverty. Previous generations enjoyed more comfort until his grandmother went bankrupt after her new husband staged a robbery of the shop she owned. Her husband stole the stock and left her destitute. Kermode's grandfather served as an organist before these financial collapses occurred.
He taught at the University of Reading from 1949 where he produced the Arden edition of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Kermode held professorships at Manchester starting in 1958 then Bristol beginning in 1965. In 1967 he received the Lord Northcliffe chair at University College London. Under his leadership UCL English Department introduced contemporary French critical theory to Britain through graduate seminars. He later became King Edward VII Professor at Cambridge University in 1974. He resigned that post in 1982 following an acrimonious tenure debate surrounding Colin MacCabe. Columbia University appointed him Julian Clarence Levi Professor Emeritus in Humanities shortly after leaving England.
The Sense of an Ending: Studies in Theory of Fiction appeared in 1967 and defined his reputation. Critics praised this work as essential reading for understanding narrative fiction structure. A second edition emerged in 2000 showing lasting influence over decades. James Shapiro described Kermode as the best living reader of Shakespeare anywhere before his death. His theoretical framework examined how stories create meaning through their conclusions. This book established him as a major voice in literary criticism beyond just editing or reviewing. It remains central to discussions about modernist literature and narrative theory today.
Kermode edited the popular Fontana Modern Masters series introducing readers to modern thinkers worldwide. He contributed regularly to the London Review of Books and The New York Review of Books throughout his career. In 1965 he became co-editor of Encounter magazine but resigned within two years. The resignation occurred once it became clear the publication received funding from the CIA. His editorial choices shaped generations of students who encountered these texts for the first time. These contributions demonstrated his ability to bridge academic rigor with public accessibility across multiple genres.
He married Maureen Eccles from 1947 until 1970 and they had twins together. His second marriage was to American scholar Anita Van Vactor whom he co-edited The Oxford Book of Letters with in 1995. September 1996 brought devastation when Cambridge City Council refuse collectors removed boxes containing valuable books and manuscripts instead of using the hired removal company. Those items were destroyed despite Kermode's attempts to protect them through legal action. He sued the council for £20,000 but the council denied responsibility for the loss. Frank Kermode died in Cambridge on the 17th of August 2010 after a long life dedicated to literature.
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Common questions
When was Frank Kermode born and where did he arrive?
Frank Kermode arrived in Douglas on the Isle of Man during November 1919. His family lived with extremely modest means while struggling to maintain a precarious standard of life.
What military service did Frank Kermode complete before his academic career?
Frank Kermode entered the Royal Navy during the Second World War and served for six years total. Much of this service took place in Iceland where he spent significant time away from home.
Which major book defined Frank Kermode's reputation as a literary critic?
The Sense of an Ending: Studies in Theory of Fiction appeared in 1967 and defined his reputation. Critics praised this work as essential reading for understanding narrative fiction structure.
Why did Frank Kermode resign from Encounter magazine in 1965?
He became co-editor of Encounter magazine but resigned within two years once it became clear the publication received funding from the CIA. The resignation occurred after discovering the source of the financial support.
How did Frank Kermode lose valuable books and manuscripts in September 1996?
Cambridge City Council refuse collectors removed boxes containing valuable books and manuscripts instead of using the hired removal company. Those items were destroyed despite Kermode's attempts to protect them through legal action.
When and where did Frank Kermode die?
Frank Kermode died in Cambridge on the 17th of August 2010 after a long life dedicated to literature. He had previously served as King Edward VII Professor at Cambridge University before leaving that post in 1982.