David Lodge, Celebrated Novelist and Academic, Dies at 89

British author David Lodge, a two-time finalist for the nation’s top literary honor, passed away Wednesday at the age of 89. Why It Matters Lodge was a widely celebrated writer, perhaps best known for his Booker Prize-nominated novels, Small World: An Academic Romance (1984) and Nice Work (1988). He also served as a professor in the English department at the University of Birmingham from 1960 to 1987, retiring to dedicate himself fully to writing. What To Know Lodge’s family expressed their pride in the prolific author, who passed away on New Year’s Day, according to a statement from his publisher, Penguin Random House. His novels Small World: An Academic Romance and Nice Work were part of a trilogy that began with Changing Places in 1975, which centered on life at a fictional university. The series was later adapted into a successful television production in the 1980s. Author David Lodge seen in Milan, Italy, on September 15, 2017. Lodge died on January 1, 2025, at the age of 89. Author David Lodge seen in Milan, Italy, on September 15, 2017. Lodge died on January 1, 2025, at the age of 89. Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images/Getty Images CBE Appointment Lodge also penned memoirs and television scripts, and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1998 in recognition of his contributions to literature. What People Are Saying Lodge’s family said in a statement: “It was interesting growing up with David Lodge as a father…Conversation over the supper table was always lively, our mother Mary very much held her own, meanwhile, David was ready with a reference book to look up something that was being disputed.” Lodge’s publisher, Liz Foley, said: “It was a true privilege and joy to be David’s publisher and I will miss him very much. His contribution to literary culture was immense, both in his criticism and through his masterful and iconic novels which have already become classics. He was also a very kind, modest and funny person and I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with him and had the pleasure of enjoying his wit and company over the course of his recent publications.’ Lodge’s editor Geoff Mulligan said: “It was my great good fortune to work with David over many years and a number of books. Our editorial sessions, which took place in his apartment near Cecil Court, were both enlightening and hugely entertaining. They provoked extensive discussions on the motivation of a character, the particular Burgundy they might drink, sometimes a single word, that I still remember. His work appealed across the generations. He was touched when a student at a reading in Belfast announced that she loved his work, but then so did her mother and grandfather. For someone of his enormous achievements as an academic, novelist, playwright and script writer, he was always modest, kind, generous and a delight to be with.” What’s Next Lodge is survived by his three children, Stephen, Christopher and Julia. His wife, Mary, passed away in January 2022. Funeral plans are currently unknown, pending further announcement from Lodge’s family. This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.