Australian
author Colleen McCullough, whose best-selling novel The Thorn Birds became a
hit TV series, has died at the age of 77. The
best-selling writer died in hospital on Norfolk Island on Thursday afternoon,
publisher HarperCollins Australia confirmed. Continue..
McCullough
had suffered poor health in recent years, losing her sight and suffering
crippling arthritis.
However,
she continued her writing through dictation.
Shona
Martyn, of Harper Collins Australia, paid tribute to McCullough, citing her as
"one of the first Australian writers to succeed on the world stage".
"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," said Martyn.
"The
world is a less colourful place without Col."
Australian
broadcaster Richard Glover tweeted: "RIP
Colleen McCullough. I can't think of anyone who took such a miserable childhood
and turned [it] into a life of such luminous achievement."
Author Tara Moss
tweeted: "So sad to hear of the passing of Colleen
McCullough. She was fierce, funny and so supportive of other writers.
Irreplaceable. RIP Colleen."
McCullough
wrote 25 novels throughout her career.
She penned her first book, Tim,
while living in America. It was later made into a 1979 film starring Mel
Gibson.
Her
second novel, 1977's The Thorn Birds, became an international bestseller.
A story
of forbidden love between a young woman and a priest in the Australian outback,
the paperback rights sold for a then-record $1.9 million (£1.25m).
It was
turned into a popular television mini-series in 1983, starring Richard
Chamberlain and Rachel Ward.
Her
last book, Bittersweet, was published in 2013.
McCullough
was born in Wellington, New South Wales and spent most of her early life in Sydney.
Before
turning to writing, she studied medicine both in Australia and overseas,
establishing the neurophysiology department at the Royal North Shore hospital
in Sydney.
She
went on to spend 10 years as a researcher at Yale medical school in the US.
The
author leaves behind husband Ric Robinson.
"Colleen
McCullough's contribution to Australian writing - and to readers around the
world - has been immense," said Martyn.
"We
will miss her dearly."
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