Colleen McCullough
Very sad news today that the Australian novelist Colleen McCullough has died. She was perhaps best known for The Thorn Birds, although I think her masterpiece was her series about ancient Rome. She will be greatly missed, but not forgotten, not as long as there are people who love to read. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-29...
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Marquise
(last edited Jan 30, 2015 04:52AM)
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Jan 29, 2015 05:43PM
Very sad indeed, Sharon. She is the reason I came to Historical Fiction when I was young, and her Masters of Rome are amongst my top 5 favourite books of all time. It will take a while to process her absence; I had hopes she'd write more . . .
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I had read her latest book and had enjoyed that, too.
She was working on a book at the time of her death, or so I heard, Marquise. That was very brave of her, considering how her health had deteriorated in recent years.
True! I can't imagine how difficult it must've been for someone used to doing her own research and writing herself to have to rely on dictation and the help of others.
Oh no, that's sad. I also loved her book "The Touch." A lot of interesting Australian history in that one.
I definitely consider her Rome series to be a classic of historical fiction. What a loss.
She wrote in many genres including crime novels, touching short novels and of course the expansive The Thorn Birds. Great authoress.
I was crushed to hear this. I loved her portrayal of Caesar, in particular. She was a force to be reckoned with.
Three authors stand out in my own journey to first reading and then writing historical fiction. First Margaret Laurence, whose books all spoke to me so strongly; next, Sharon Kay Penman, whose Sunne in Splendour took me down the marvelous freeway of historical fiction; and, finally, Colleen McCullough, whose Thorn Birds first called to me and whose Rome series remains a stunning achievement for historical fiction writers everywhere to emulate. Rest in peace, Colleen. You will not be forgotten.
Having spent so many days of my life with Colleen McCullough's books I feel a dear friend has died. To says I admired her work would be understatement especially the Masters of Rome Series which I agree is a work of serious scholarship and passion. Gaius Julius Caesar becomes a hero for all time under the magic of her pen. Where The Thorn Birds, The Touch, Morgan's Run, etc. were entertainments and helpful in understanding Australia, the Rome series is an accomplishment exceeding most goals of historical fiction by recreating the history of ancient Republican Rome that impacted all western civilizations ultimately. Her work will become classics.
A lady larger than life, and such an iconic Aussie.
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