John Marsden was an Australian author and educator best known for his 1993 young adult novel “Tomorrow, When the War Began.”
- Died: December 2024
- Details of death: Died at his home in Australia at the age of 74.
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John Marsden’s legacy
Marsden found his way to writing after first exploring a variety of jobs, then landing in education. Working as an English teacher in Geelong, Australia, he became disheartened by his students’ apathy toward literature. Wanting to create something that would inspire teens to read, he wrote his debut novel, 1987’s “So Much to Tell You.” The book, written in the style of a diary of a teen girl who was emotionally scarred by a shadowy incident, was a success in Australia and abroad. It was honored with such awards as Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Award for Older Readers, and it was noted among the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults.
In 1993, Marsden published his enduring classic, “Tomorrow, When the War Began.” The novel follows a group of teens after their Australian town is invaded and occupied by foreign forces; they were camping at the time of the invasion and eluded capture, and they fight back over the course of the book. A winner of many Australian book awards and also a hit in the U.S., “Tomorrow, When the War Began” spawned nine sequels over the next 13 years. It was adapted into a 2010 film in Australia, as well as a 2015 television drama. Marsden later noted that he wouldn’t have written the series in more contemporary times, due to xenophobic tendencies in his country that he feared were reflected in the books.
Marsden’s other titles include “Letters from the Inside,” “Checkers,” “The Rabbits,” and “Home and Away.” His works included picture books for younger readers, poetry, and non-fiction.
In 2006, Marsden founded the Candlebark School near Melbourne, Australia, which focuses on connection with nature and engagement with the outside world. A decade later, he opened the Alice Miller School. He served as principal at both.
Notable quote
“I think everybody has to express themselves creatively or else they’ll end up psychically very ill. It doesn’t matter what path you choose, whether it’s art, acting, music, dance, cake decorating, gardening, ceramics. For me it’s writing, because I love words and language, and I love stories.” — from a 2011 interview with Matt J. Horn
Tributes to John Marsden
Full obituary: The Sydney Morning Herald
