23.11.12

It's a sad day for Australian literature.

If you are unaware of the name Bryce Courtenay shame on you. SHAME ON YOU.

He was one of the greatest modern wordsmith and storyteller to come out of Australia (yes sure he's South-African born but we adopted him as our own) and had one of his books turned into a film with Morgan Freeman, so with that alone you know he's a cool dude.
Four of his books have secure places in my top ten. They are so beautifully crafted that each book has been revised to my memory at least 5 times each. The Power of One (aforementioned book-turn-film with Freeman) made me want to take up boxing. Tandia, it's subsequent sequel made me wish i wasn't so politically ignorant. Jessica then brought out this bushwack side of me, fuelling this bizarre craving to ride around the outback on a horse, being all righteous and whatnot. And finally April Fools Day made me, a self-proclaimed anti-cryer, bawl my eyes out on the train from Sydney to Byron while an elderly woman looked on cautiously.

Bryce Courtenay passed away on the 22nd November. Yesterday.
I never knew the man but i wish i did.

He left this video on his long-time publishers (Penguin) YouTube channel that just makes you want to cuddle the man.

RIP Mr Courtenay, you brilliant man.


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