Barcelona, Jun 7 (IANS/EFE): British author Tom Sharpe, a critically acclaimed writer of comic fiction, died early Thursday at his home in the Spanish coastal town of Llafranc, a spokesperson for Spanish publishing group Anagrama told EFE. He was 85.

Sharpe, who lived alone, died at around 1 a.m. due to complications from diabetes.

Known for his dark and acerbic humor, Sharpe is especially remembered for his novel "Wilt" about a university professor hounded by a nagging wife. That work was followed by several sequels: "The Wilt Alternative", "Wilt on High", "Wilt in Nowhere" and "The Wilt Inheritance".

"Wilt" was made into a 1989 film directed by Michael Tuchner.

Sharpe's other books include "Riotous Assembly", "Indecent Exposure" and "Porterhouse Blue", all written in the 1970s.

His body is to be cremated and his ashes are to be strewn in Llafranc, as well as at the University of Cambridge - where he studied history - and another site in England.