Colleen-McCullough-Obituary

Colleen McCullough

1937 - 2015 (Age 77)

About

AGE
77

Obituary

SYDNEY (AP) - Best-selling Australian author Colleen McCullough, whose novel "The Thorn Birds" sold 30 million copies worldwide, has died at age 77 after a long illness.

McCullough died Thursday in a hospital on remote Norfolk Island, HarperCollins Australia publishing director Shona Martyn said in a statement.

McCullough had continued producing books despite a string of health and eyesight problems by using dictation, Martyn said.

"Ever quick-witted and direct, we looked forward to her visits from Norfolk Island and the arrival of each new manuscript delivered in hard copy in custom-made maroon manuscript boxes inscribed with her name," Martyn said.

McCullough wrote 25 novels throughout her career. Her final book "Bittersweet" was released in 2013.

Her first novel "Tim" was published in 1974. It became a movie starring Mel Gibson, who played a young, intellectually disabled handyman who had a romance with a middle-aged woman.

Her second novel, "The Thorn Birds," published in 1977, became a U.S. television mini-series in 1983 starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward and Christopher Plummer. The Outback melodrama about a priest's struggle between church and love won four Golden Globe awards.

During the 1980s, she wrote love stories including "An Indecent Obsession" and "The Ladies of Missalonghi."

Her historical seven-novel series "Masters of Rome" was published from 1990 to 2007.

McCullough was born in the small town of Wellington in New South Wales state on June 1, 1937. The family moved to the state capital, Sydney, where she began studying at Sydney University to become a medical doctor until she discovered that she had an allergic reaction to the antiseptic soap that surgeons use to scrub.

She switched her studies to neuroscience and spent 10 years as a researcher at Yale Medical School in the United States. She established the neurophysiology department at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

She lived as an author in the United States and London before settling on Norfolk Island, a former British penal colony in the Pacific Ocean which became home to descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers.

In 1983 she married one of those descendants, Ric Robinson, who survives her.


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I am an 85 year old avid reader.I, when reading morgan's run also sought more information on Richard Morgan. I was stunned to discover he was a fictional character!!!
colleen is one of a diminishing group of authors I am addicted to.

A force to contend in life and certainly in death. A woman to admire. It goes without saying the impact she had and has in this world.

I'm so sorry to hear that Colleen McCullough passed away. She is one of my favorite authors.
I just found out today, July 31st. This information was a question on "Jeopardy."
To the family, I am so very sorry for your loss.
Elaine Chestnut Zuber, Hilltop, NJ, USA

I just finished reading "Morgan's Run", and looking up on line to see if she "Colleen McCullough" had continued the story of "Morgan and his family" and was sadden by the news of her death, she has peaked my interest in Norfolk Island and its history.. my condolences.... Rena (IL)

I met Colleen in the early seventies at a party, (where else?)when she was at the Yale Medical School. Her intervention there helped my young daughter, for which I have always been grateful. I do regret not writing later to congratulate her on her literary successes. I've read most of her books.
My deepest sympathy to her family. She was one in a million. Margaret

Colleen McCullough is and always will be highly valued. Find comfort in knowing that she brought joy and enlightenment to the lives of many. May God's love embrace the McCullough family during this difficult time.

Our sincere sympathy to the family. Just loved the Thorn Birds. She will be missed. May the family find the comfort that God gives.

My condolences during this time of sorrow.May this family take comfort in scriptural thoughts from the Bible.(2Cor.1:2-4)B.Meill