REKNOWNED Irish author William Trevor, who has died aged 88, was a "writer of elegance", President Michael D Higgins has said.
The short story writer, three time winner of the Whitbread prize for fiction and multiple Booker Prize nominee was from Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
His first novel, A Standard Of Behaviour, was published in 1958 while he wrote his last, Love And Summer, 50 years later.
In between he earned a reputation as the best Irish writer of his generation, completing more than 30 works.
Trevor, who lived in Devon for many years, was awarded an honorary knighthood in 2002.
"It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of William Trevor, the distinguished novelist, playwright, sculptor and former teacher," said President Higgins.
"The work of William Trevor was widely regarded by his peers and critics as being among the finest literary works produced in Ireland.
"He was a writer of elegance, with words and themes."
Sending his condolences, Mr Higgins said the writer's loss would be felt most keenly by his wife Jane and sons Patrick and Dominic.
He added: "But his death is also an immense loss to all readers who value the power of evocative words and the beauty of a story well told."
Educated at Trinity College Dublin, Trevor worked as a sculptor and teacher for several years and later as a copywriter in an advertising agency before becoming a full-time writer in 1965.
He was best known for his short stories, including The Ballroom of Romance, In at the Birth and Beyond the Pale.
Several of his works, including The Ballroom of Romance and his novels Fools of Fortune and Felicia's Journey, which both won the Whitbread prize, were made into films.
Last year he was named as a Saoi of arts group Aosdána for his "towering achievements".
