Bryce Courtenay
by JO ABI
“It is with great sadness that I am writing to let you know that Jack of Diamonds, my new book due out in November this year, shall be my last.” – Bryce Courtenay
Bryce Courtenay helped shape the writer I am today. As a teenager I devoured The Power of One, Tandia and The Potato Factory, reading each several times. I didn’t stop to admire the prose, to scrutinize the writing techniques used because the stories Bryce Courtney told are so powerful, so emotive, so beautiful and sad. He will be Australia’s greatest writer.
Learning that Bryce Courtenay has passed with as much dignity as he can muster, agreeing to farewell interviews and calling his last novel Jack of Diamonds his farewell to the world, really took my breath away. How does one die like this? He was at peace, feeling that he has contributed to the world and staying calm about an outcome he can’t control.
“I have been diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer and am expected to have only some months to share with my adorable wife, Christine (Gee).”
I’m so used to seeing the dying frantically chasing cures, as I’m sure I would be. I imagine that I would go down fighting, not with the calm acceptance Bryce Courtenay displayed. I’d like to think I could be just like him – accepting of my outcome and having found some sort of peace. No more invasive surgeries, experimental therapies abroad…just time in my garden and with my loved ones.
My friend Donna and I fancy ourselves future novelists. We haven’t managed to finish a first draft yet but always comfort each other with the reminder that Bryce Courtenay didn’t experience his first real success until he was in his fifties with The Power of One. He purchased his own advertising campaign on buses and his book became a best-seller and then a world wide hit. He had been scared it wouldn’t sell.
Then Donna moved to the Southern Highlands. She sent me a text…JUST SAW BRYCE COURTENAY SHOPPING and I rang her and we squealed with excitement. She didn’t approach him for an autograph or run up and hug him (as we both wanted to). We were happy to know that he was there, writing away, inspiring us, being a best-selling novelist and buying fruit like any other ordinary person.
We are beyond devastated…we are sitting in a kid’s cafe having heard the news. It’s not a coincidence that we are together in this moment.
I’ve found out about what I’m sure will be a brilliant ABC documentary airing on Monday 26 November at 8pm on ABC1 and I plan to have the kids in bed, a cup of tea (it seems fitting) and I plan to watch it carefully…I may even take notes…because while he isn’t perfect and has never claimed to be, Bryce Courtenay is perfect to me, in life, in death and in his books.
This is a ‘Thank You’ video made by Bryce in the final weeks of his life.
Were you a fan of Bryce Courtenay? Which was your favourite book and why?
Jo Abi is the author of the book How to Date a Dad: a dating guide released by Hachette Livre Australia. You can read more about her many and various exploits here.
Comments
37 Comments so far
I had the very good fortune to see Bryce Courtney in action as a guest speaker at a CPA lunch many years ago. I came away from that lunch thinking “what a truely gifted story teller”
All of his works were brilliant but my favourties of his were Whitethorn, The Persimonn Tree and Fishing for Stars…. I felt great sadness and was overcome with emotion when I watched this video for the first time.
When I think of him and this video I think back to that lunch & think we’ve lost a truely gifted & sprited story teller. One can only hope that he’s inspired a new generation of story tellers to engulf us in their brilliance.
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I saw Bryce Courtenay at the Melbourne Writers Festival at Federation Square a few years ago and he was inspirational. In the Q&A I asked him which was his favourite book and he replied, Jessica as it was based on a true story. Next in line was Four Fires which is about a family he knew of. I love his stories and when I heard he had passed I immediately picked up A Recipe for Dreaming and read it from cover to cover – Dare your genius to walk the unknown way. I love this little book of Courtenay affirmations. It’s out of print now but you will find it at BookFound.com – I’ve bought a few copies for friends today for Christmas.
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I unashamedly and openly cried when I heard the breaking news on the radio today. He was thoroughly deserving of being breaking news, even though he would protest. I met him years ago at the book launch of April Fools and he was gracious and giving of his time, cheeky and witty, quick to forgoe the formal handshake for a heartfelt hug. A beautifully honest man, who proudly wore his heart on his sleeve. I wonder if he realised just how much he was loved.
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Whenever anyone asks me to recommend a good book – I always ask “have you read Matthew Flinder’s Cat??” Next to Trinity – this would have to be my \ll time favourite book. I am so sad to know that there will be no more Courtney novels and am glad to have nearly every one of his wonderful stories in my book case to share with my family and to re-read. Thank you Mr. Courtney. RIP , you won’t be forgotten .
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RIP Bryce. Thank you for your amazing stories, particularly Power of One which affects me as deeply now as it did when I was a teenager reading it for the first time.
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I have only ready one of his books, April Fools Day, it was amazing but incredibly sad. I have been meaning to read more, and I will. RIP Bryce x
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I met Bryce twice. Once in Melbourne where too shocked to speak at winning a writing prize, he held up my five year old in her best velvet dress and made a fuss of her. The next time in Warrnambool on his speaking circuit, beaming his magic around the room. A gifted and warm person, both times.
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WOW!!!! What an amazing heartfelt thank you…..Bought tears to my eyes.
The power of one was my absolute favourite.
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I have read all of Bryce’s fantastic books and saw him one day in my local shopping centre, he said ‘Hi, how are you?’ As I returned his greeting I found myself wanting to tell him I had cried buckets over his books, had fallen in love with many of his characters and was always thrilled when he had written sequels, but in our very brief encounter I never managed to say that, I am sad to hear of his passing, but can look to my books shelf and know his legacy will always remain, although I truly wished he had written a sequel to Danny Dunn, God Speed Mr Courtenay what a true gentleman you were and will forever remain
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RIP Bryce. Your books have brought enjoyment to so many people and will continue to do so for many, many years to come. We have lost a wonderful storyteller today who will be greatly missed
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That video was so moving – sitting here with tears in my eyes…
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I loved all his books but The Power of One is my all time favourite. It’s falling apart due to the amount of times I have written it. His book inspired me so much that I have the Power of One tattooed on me in Afrikaan.
I was lucky enough to meet Bryce a few years ago at a book signing and I have a photo with him which I will always treasure.
He is going to be greatly missed.
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“First with the head, then with the heart.”
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The world lost a literary genius today. I have all his books and have read and
re-read them all over the years.
RIP you imagination builder, dream-creator and teller of stories.
You made my love of reading grow with your ability to let me escape in your words.
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I have nearly all of Bryce Courtenay’s books and love them all. The Potato Factory remains one of my all time favourites. I also loved April Fools Day but have never had the strengh to re-read it for the sheer sadness it evoked. We lost a true gentleman today.
RIP you clever, imaginative, dream creator and teller of stories. You made my love of reading grow with your ability to let me escape in your words.
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Matthew Flinders Cat is my absolute favourite and changed the way I saw the world and the people in it when I read it as a teenager. So sad to hear about Bryce passing away but what an amazing man and legacy he has left behind. It’s a Christmas tradition that I buy my mum Bryce’s book each year and then I read it when she’s finished. Sad to think this is the last year of our tradition.
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Jacki, I so agree Matthew Flinder’s Cat, was life changing for me also, i often think but for the grace of god anyone of us could find our lives take a different turn and we could end up in a place or position we never thought possible, everyone has a back story so lets all respect that and show some compassion and empathy
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Bryce Courtenay was a truly talented storyteller and beautiful man. I have devoured every of his books and I enjoyed every one. Highlights were Jessica – I read it as a 16 year old and the power of such a strong female character rising above such adversity had a long-lasting effect on me. I loved that Bryce had strong female characters throughout his works, but not just black and white females but with so many shades, just like us all. I loved Tandia for similar reasons. Not a beautiful story, but a tragically dramatic and powerful story about a strong woman. Four Fires is stunning and the development of the PTSD story arch, incredible, as I was training as a psychologist when I read this work it too had a profound impact. As many have highlighted below, April Fool’s Day – the rawness, the honesty, the human face of a tragic disease, and a reminder of how far our fight has come.
I am forever grateful for the many, many hours of inspiration, dreaming, thinking, imagining, and challenging myself to be a better me. Thank you Bryce Courtenay. You are and always will be an amazing storyteller and your stories and words will continue to live on as an inspiration to us all.
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I’m ona big road trip at the moment and have been listening to audiobooks. Yesterday I finished the Powewr of One. It had been years since I read it and eally enjoyed revisiting it again. Bryce Courtenay is going to missed.
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I read The Power of One when I was nine years old, and it had such a profound effect on me.
The Potato Factory trilogy, Jessica, Tandia – so many books that i invested in emotionally, I felt like I knew the man.
I have been crying all morning, in death he is still inspiring.
So thank you, Bryce Courtenay, it’s been an honour
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That clip made me choke up. It was so moving.
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My favourite page from “A Recipe for Dreaming”
” It seems to me we’re obsessed with having things. We put ourselves in debt for thirty years in order to own a house. We work at thankless jobs we hate for thirty years in order to have sufficient money to retire in security and to die in absolute obscurity.
There is another way. The idea is to dream up the things you want to do and make them happen.
Life is not about HAVING things, life is about DOING things.
Doing things usually has a rewarding result. You either make more money than you need without being bored in the process, or you discover that you don’t really need all that fiscal security to live happily ever after.
You also die smiling.”
I read this when I was 22 years old and about to travel the world. It’s been my mantra for the past 15 years. Its been an amazing life so far.
Vale Bryce Courtney. Thank you for the many, many hours of reading pleasure. You are truly one of Australia’s best storytellers.
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I am a massive fan of Bryce Courtney and The Power of One and Aprils Fools remain 2 of my all time favourite books. Gone but not forgotten
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These were my two favourites as well. Incredible books.
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My two faces as well! Ove read both a few times!
RIP Bryce Courtney and it is us who should be saying “THANK YOU!”
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Thank you Bryce Courtney, thank YOU.
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What a sad world it will be without his stories. I too grew up reading his books over and over again.
RIP Mr Courtenay. You inspired us all.
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I met Bryce Courtenay about 10 years ago through the course of work, and he signed my copy of The Power of One for me. He had a chuckle and said to me, “You do realise I have written other books, don’t you?”
I don’t have a favourite book, they were all great reads for me.
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I was lucky enough to meet him twice. He was such a wonderful warm intelligent man (who loved cuddles!). Your friend so should of gone to say hello when she saw him. Such a sad loss
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I’m not normally a “crying when a famous person dies” kind of person, but that video made me lose it completely. I’ve loved his books since I was a teenager, and always bought every one in hardback on the day it’s released – I normally just go to the library, buy books in paperback or the kindle vesions. Such a beautiful writer, and such a dignified man.
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Very sad news, RIP Bryce. I was so touched by his book, April Fool’s Day, about his son Damon who contracted HIV from a blood transfusion. Very sad and moving, a must read for anyone, even those who don’t like his fiction novels would enjoy this.
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I cannot bring myself to watch the video – I feel so sad to know that he is gone.
I had the privilege of meeting him several times, and have many signed copies of his work. I grew up reading his books, and just feel so sad to know that my favourite Christmas tradition of reading his latest book will end this year.
I send my thoughts to his family and friends, and wish them peace through this time. Bruce Courtenay has left an incredible imperssion on many lives, and he will not be forgotten.
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April Fool’s Day – I like all his books but was flabbergasted at the raw emotion and positive energy he put into this book about losing his son to AIDS in a time when not much was known about the disease. I couldn’t have written it. I could barely read it. In my opinion, it’s his real masterpiece as a writer.
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Yes, everything you said.
I read it many years ago when I was at home for a few days with the flu. I found it heart-wrenching and cried and cried as I read it.
A very sad day. He really was not only an amazing writer, but a delightful man when interviewed as well.
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One of my favourite books also!
Gosh!! Just sad news!! It’s a real loss!!
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I’ve read it a couple of times and ball my eyes out every time.
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I made the mistake of taking ‘April Fools Day’ to finish on a flight…so there I was trying to obscure my blubbering by pretending to look out the window into the night….
All of his books have been absolutely wonderful!
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