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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