What is the theme in Small World by David Lodge?

Academia is another theme in the story. Small World depicts the world of college teachers, particularly during summer breaks. For none of them, it appears, is pedagogy important. They endure the grind of classroom teaching (and other academic duties) only until they publish their first book. This frees them to publish a second, better book, which opens the full ladder of opportunity: higher academic ranks, tenure and the nirvana of unlimited grant funds to write and travel around the world. Academics attend conferences not to learn anything or even primarily to show off to their peers.