Tom Sharpe facts for kids

Thomas Ridley Sharpe (born March 30, 1928 – died June 6, 2013) was an English writer known for his funny and often exaggerated stories. He wrote many popular books, including the Wilt series, Porterhouse Blue, and Blott on the Landscape. All three of these books were later made into TV shows or movies.

Pembroke College, Cambridge University

Tom Sharpe's Life Story

Early Years and Education

Tom Sharpe was born in Holloway, London, and grew up in Croydon. His father, George Coverdale Sharpe, was a minister. Tom went to Bloxham School and then Lancing College. After school, he served in the Royal Marines for a short time. Later, he studied history at Pembroke College, Cambridge University.

Time in South Africa

In 1951, Tom Sharpe moved to South Africa. There, he worked as a social worker and a teacher. He wrote a play called The South African. This play was critical of the government at the time. After the play was shown in London, Sharpe was arrested in 1961. He was then sent back to England.

Teaching and Later Life

After returning to England, Sharpe became a history lecturer. He taught at the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology. His experiences teaching there gave him ideas for his famous Wilt book series.

From 1995, Tom and his American wife, Nancy, split their time. They lived partly in Cambridge and partly in their home in Llafranc, Spain. They had three daughters. Even though he lived in Spain, he chose not to learn Spanish or Catalan. He once said he didn't want to know "the price of meat."

His Passing

Tom Sharpe passed away on June 6, 2013, in Llafranc, Spain. He was 85 years old. He had been working on a book about his own life. Many people remembered him as a funny and engaging person. His editor, Susan Sandon, said he was "witty, often outrageous, always acutely funny." His ashes were buried in a churchyard in Thockrington, Northumberland, where his father had once preached.

Books Made into Shows

Many of Tom Sharpe's funny stories were turned into TV shows and movies.

Blott on the Landscape

Blott on the Landscape was made into a TV series by BBC TV in 1985. It had six episodes. The show starred George Cole, Geraldine James, and David Suchet.

Porterhouse Blue

In 1987, Porterhouse Blue was also adapted for television. Channel 4 aired it in four episodes. This show featured David Jason and Ian Richardson.

Wilt

The book Wilt became a film in 1989. It was made by LWT. The movie starred Griff Rhys Jones as Henry Wilt, Mel Smith as Inspector Flint, and Alison Steadman as Eva Wilt.

Tom Sharpe's Impact

Tom Sharpe's books were known for their sharp humor and how they made fun of different parts of life.

For example, The Great Pursuit was a funny look at the book publishing world. A reviewer from the Los Angeles Times said it was "funny and devastatingly accurate."

Another book, Wilt in Nowhere, was seen as a tour through different places. It showed funny things happening that puzzled the police.

Sharpe also worked on a TV adaptation of a thriller called She Fell Among Thieves for the BBC in 1977. This show also had some of his typical funny and exaggerated style.