Bryce-Courtenay-Obituary

Bryce Courtenay

1933 - 2012 (Age 79)

About

DIED
November 22, 2012
AGE
79

Obituary

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Best-selling Australian author Bryce Courtenay, whose first and final books drew on his tough early-life experiences in Africa, has died of stomach cancer. He was 79.

He started writing in midlife and called his first novels "practice books," but his debut was a success. "The Power of One" was published in 1989, translated into 12 languages and became a hit movie.

His publisher Penguin Group said Friday that Courtenay died at his family home in the Australian capital Canberra late Thursday, surrounded by his family and pets.

His 21st novel, "Jack of Diamonds," was published Nov. 12 and included a moving epilogue to his readers.

"It's been a privilege to write for you and to have you accept me as a storyteller in your lives," he wrote. "Now, as my story draws to an end, may I say only, 'Thank you. You have been simply wonderful.'"

Courtenay was born the illegitimate son of a dressmaker on Aug. 14, 1933, in the mountain town of Barberton in what is now the Limpopo province of South Africa.

By the age of 17, he was working in the dangerous mines of what is now Zimbabwe. The work paid his way to Britain, where he studied at the London School of Journalism. He met an Australian, Benita Solomon, whom he followed to her hometown of Sydney in 1958 and married.

He fell into a career in advertising with U.S. agency McCann Erikson at the age of 26 and rose to creative director. He had an epiphany at the age of 50 when he decided to fulfill a lifelong ambition to be a novelist.

"The Power of One" was to be the first of three "practice books" Courtenay planned to write over three years before taking two years to write a fourth book which he hoped would find a publisher.

"I was absolutely staggered when somebody wanted to publish it in the first place," Courtenay said in his official biography released by Penguin.

"Now its worldwide success and the fact that it's available in 12 languages still amazes me," he said. It became a movie starring Morgan Freeman.

Courtenay dedicated its sequel, "Tandia," to his third son, Damon, who died of medically acquired AIDS at the age of 24 in 1991 — two months before the book was published.

That tragedy inspired his third book, "April Fool's Day," that deals with the public fear of AIDS and was published in 1993.

In June, doctors told Courtenay that there was no hope of curing his stomach cancer.

Bob Sessions, Courtenay's longstanding publisher at Penguin, said the author would produce a 600-page book in six months, sometimes writing for more than 12 hours a day.

"He was a born storyteller and I would tell him he was a latter-day Charles Dickens with his strong and complex plots, larger-than-life characters and his ability to appeal to a large number of readers," Sessions said.

Courtenay divorced his first wife, Benita, in 2000. She died in 2007 aged 72.

He married his partner of seven years, Christine Gee, last year. He is also survived by his sons Brett and Adam.

ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

And no resident will say: “I am sick…”Isa 33:24. We can expect this to be a reality in the near future; perhaps you or I may see those missing from our lives due to a sickness or illness that led to an untimely death. Prayers go out to the surviving family and friends may the God of comfort continue to bless you and yours.

You will not be forgotten your legacies will always be remembered, our prayers are with your family and those you love.Even in their grief they would be oh so proud. RIP.

MAY OUR LOVING AND KIND HEAVENLY FATHER LEAD GUIDE AND DIRECT THE FAMILY AT THIS TIME.PLEASE ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCE......

Thank you Bryce for being fair dinkum about your fallibility.

Sorely missed such a wonderful wonderful man

Bryce Courtenay you were so wonderful to me. Working for you in Advertising, your comments will never be forgotten. You told me when I left Australia: "I want you to roar with your art, ROAR with your art." You were my Guru. Most uplifting, spectacular human being. So sadly missed.

Thank you. My favorite by far is "The Power of One"

Bryce, it was you I named my son after. During my pregnancy I read 'jessica' a wonderful book that gave me hours of enjoyment. How fitting that I now have my own Bryce. I will miss your books and interviews, I never tire of the characters and am looking forward to the last book 'jack of diamonds'... May you rest in peace and enjoy the journey.. God bless ... Gai


your books and interviews