Thomas Arthur Michael Irwin, (born 3 May 1934) is a British Emeritus Professor of English at the
University of Kent and author of several works of fiction, as well as scholarly books. His 2013 novel, ''The Skull and the Nightingale'' is, according to WorldCat, held in more than 500 libraries.
Early life and education
Irwin was born in London, and was educated at
William Ellis School, Camden and
Exeter College, Oxford. He earned a BLitt and MA.
Career
Irwin taught at
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin ( pl, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, la, Universitas Catholica Lublinensis Ioannis Pauli II, abbreviation KUL), established in 1918. It is the only private college in Poland with the s ...
(1958–59), the
University of Tokyo (1961-63), the
University of Lodz (1963–65) and
Smith College
Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...
, Massachusetts (1965–67) before joining the newly established
University of Kent in 1967 where he became Professor of English.
During his career Irwin wrote three books related to the field of English literature. He wrote introductions to a number of editions of classic Victorian novels. He also wrote two novels early in his career.
In 2001 Irwin retired, becoming Professor Emeritus. He served as the Chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society from 2005 until 2008. He contributed criticism and analysis of Hardy's works to several books and journals.
Irwin also translated a number of opera libretti, mostly for
Kent Opera and wrote the lyrics for
Brunel (opera project) and other original musical works.
In 2013 he wrote a novel, ''The Skull and the Nightingale'', which has received a number of positive reviews.
Bibliography
Fiction:
* ''Working Orders'' (Andre Deutsch, 1969)
* ''Striker'' (Andre Deutsch, 1985)
* ''The Skull and the Nightingale'' (Harper Collins, 2013)
Non-fiction:
* ''Henry Fielding: the Tentative Realist'' (Clarendon Press, 1967)
* ''Picturing: Description and Illusion in the Nineteenth-Century Novel'' (George Allen and Unwin, 1979)
* ''Reading Hardy’s Landscapes'' (Macmillan, 2000)
"A Short Bibliographical Survey of Thomas Hardy Studies"
''The Victorian Web'', Andrzej Diniejko
Personal life
Irwin has four children, a daughter from his first marriage to Donia Etherington, and two daughters and a son with his wife Stella. The couple lived together in Canterbury, Kent, until her death in 2015.
References
External links
Profile at University of Kent School of English
*http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/06/shows-events/bea/editors-picks-panel-22-great-titles-lj-day-of-dialog-2012/#_
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin, Michael
1934 births
Living people
People educated at William Ellis School
Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford
Academics of the University of Kent
Writers from London
21st-century British novelists
British male novelists
21st-century English male writers