John Carey 1934–2025

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Professor John Carey. Carey won the James Tait Black Prize for his wonderful biography of Golding: William Golding: The Man Who Wrote Lord of the Flies (2009). He also met and interviewed Golding in 1985 and edited an essay collection to celebrate his 75th birthday, entitled William Golding: The Man and His Books. Judy Golding Carver writes:

‘While John was writing his masterly biography of my father, we were privileged to see him at work, as he carefully amassed the immense store of erudition that informed the book. He and Gill [John’s wife] were such good guests and such lively companions. John was a sensitive interviewer, thoughtful and trustworthy. Conversations with my brother, who had a lifelong mental illness, were a model of integrity and empathy. John’s writing was lucid and self-effacing, his wit a joy. We were extremely lucky that he took the project on. And we shouldn’t forget that he also gave us many jars of honey from his own hives. A generous man.’