David Lurie is a fictional character from the novel "Disgrace," written by South African author J.M. Coetzee. He is a middle-aged professor of literature at a university in Cape Town, known for his controversial views and troubled personal life. Lurie becomes embroiled in a scandal after engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student. The story follows Lurie's journey of disgrace and redemption after he is dismissed from his position. He returns to his daughter, Lucy, who lives on a farm in the Eastern Cape, where they face the challenges of post-apartheid South Africa. The novel explores themes of power, guilt, and societal change.