Paul West (writer, born 1930)

Paul West (May 23, 1930 – October 16, 2015) was a British and American novelist, poet, essayist, and critic, known for his experimental and linguistically inventive prose style.

Born in Eckington, Derbyshire, England, West served in the Royal Air Force before attending the University of Birmingham, where he earned a B.A. in English. He later earned an M.A. from Oxford University and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He immigrated to the United States in the 1950s and became a naturalized citizen.

West taught English and comparative literature at Pennsylvania State University for many years. His literary career spanned several decades, resulting in a diverse body of work that includes novels, poetry collections, essays, and literary criticism.

His novels are often characterized by their stream-of-consciousness narratives, dense prose, and explorations of complex themes related to memory, identity, and the human condition. Notable novels include The Very Rich Hours of Count von Stauffenberg (1980), a fictionalized account of Claus von Stauffenberg's plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Gala (1981), and The Women of Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper (1991).

West also wrote extensively about his experiences with illness, particularly his aphasia, in memoirs and essays. He explored the challenges and complexities of language and communication in the face of neurological impairment.

His other works include I'm Expecting to Live Quite Soon (1970), Out of My Depths: A Swimmer in the Universe (1983), My Mother's Music (2001), and collections of poetry and essays. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his contributions to literature.