Irish novelist, playwright and short story writer dies aged 88

William Trevor, Irish novelist, playwright and one of the greatest short story writers of the last century has died at the age of 88.

His publisher, Penguin Random House Ireland, formally announced the death yesterday. It offered its condolences to his family and hailed him as “one of Ireland’s greatest writers”. The Irish Times reported.

Trevor, the author of more than 15 novels and many more short stories, was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize four times, most recently for The Story of Lucy Gault in 2002, the same year he was awarded an honorary knighthood for his services to literature.

He also won the Whitbread prize three times and frequently contributed short stories to The New Yorker magazine. Guardian UK reported.

American writer Joyce Carol Oates, was among the first to respond, tweeting“One of the great short story writers. Beautifully composed, lyrical, understated prose,”

Sarah Hilary, the British crime novelist, also offered praise, describing him as “one of my favourite authors”.

Although he wrote nearly 20 novels, many of which won top literary prizes, Mr. Trevor did his finest work in short bursts, and tended to be dismissive of his ventures into the longer form. “I’m a short-story writer who writes novels when he can’t get them into short stories,” he once said. On another occasion, his called his novels “a lot of linked-up short stories.” Guardian UK reported.

Trevor was awarded a CBE in 1977 for his services to literature, and was made a Companion of Literature in 1994.

He is survived by his wife Jane and their two sons, Patrick and Dominic.

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