Bernard Walls, although a Theology professor, no longer believes in Heaven – neither in the metaphysical nor in the earthly. Carrying doubt and exhaustion from a life without expectations, he travels to Hawaii not to find happiness but to accompany his elderly father to a final, inevitable meeting with his dying sister. However, a series of comic and tragic incidents trap him in Hawaii’s commercialized tourist “paradise,” amidst crowds of vacationers, shallow pleasures, and unbearable heat. Yet, within this chaos, there may be the possibility of unexpected salvation.
With his characteristic humor and subtle irony, David Lodge creates an entertaining existential comedy about faith, loss, and the search for meaning – even in the most unlikely places.
"The only way to address this problem without banning travel by law is to prove to the world that people don't really enjoy their holidays, but are merely performing a ritual rooted in superstition. It is no coincidence that tourism began to increase when religion fell into decline. It is the new opium of the people, and this must be revealed to the world."
Multi-award-winning author David Lodge was born in London in 1935. He studied at the University of London and received his doctorate from the University of Birmingham, where he taught from 1960 to 1987 in the Department of English Literature.
He has written numerous novels, novellas, and literary essays, as well as plays and screenplays for television, which have received rave reviews and awards, and have been translated into 25 languages.
In 1998, he was awarded the title CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for his overall contribution to literature.
He passed away in Birmingham on January 1, 2025.
His novels The Remedy (2024) and Unheard Damage (2025) are also available from Kypseli Publications.
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