British author David Lodge passed away on New Year’s Day at the age of 89. His family expressed their pride and love for the influential writer in a statement released by his publisher, Penguin Random House.
Lodge was widely recognized for his two novels, “Small World: An Academic Romance,” published in 1984, and “Nice Work,” which followed four years later. Both works earned him nominations for the prestigious Booker Prize. These novels continued the narrative from his earlier work, “Changing Places,” published in 1975, marking the beginning of a trilogy centered around a fictional university. This trilogy gained a following and was successfully adapted for television in the 1980s.
He not only penned novels but also wrote memoirs and scripts for television. Lodge had a long career as a professor in the English department at the University of Birmingham from 1960 until his retirement in 1987, after which he dedicated more time to his writing endeavors.
His family fondly remembered him, stating that growing up with Lodge as a father meant engaging conversations at the dinner table, often spirited debates enriched by his quick access to reference books for settling disputes.
Liz Foley, Lodge’s publisher, remarked on the privilege of working with him and expressed how much he would be missed. Lodge was honored with the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1998 for his contributions to literature.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, who passed away in January 2022. He is survived by their three children: Stephen, Christopher, and Julia.
