I am sorry to have to pass on news of the death of Morris Lurie, author of short stories, essays, plays, children’s books and comic novels in his own, distinctive style.
Born in Carlton, Morris began his career with his first novel Rappaport in 1938, and he went on to write numerous other novels (see Wikipedia), two of which I have reviewed on this blog: To Light Attained (Hybrid Publishers, 2008) and Hergesheimer in the Present Tense (Hyrbid Publishers, 2014).
His name is familiar to generations of school children for the unforgettable The 27th Annual Hippopotamus Race which won the YABBA award in 1986.
In 2006 he received the Patrick White Award for under-recognised, lifetime achievement in literature.
What I loved about Lurie’s writing was his great sense of comic timing, his self-deprecating humour, and the poignant raw honesty with which he wrote about his travails.
He will be sadly missed. He is irreplaceable.
My condolences go to his family and to his publisher, Anna Rosner Blay.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
So sorry to hear!
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By: Debbie Robson on October 8, 2014
at 11:20 pm
Oh, Anna had said that he was not going well. Very sad. Thanks for this post, Lisa.
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By: whisperinggums on October 8, 2014
at 11:21 pm
I somehow feel as if I’ve lost a friend, even though I never met him.
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By: Lisa Hill on October 9, 2014
at 2:06 pm
Yes, it’s sad seeing our writers go … Just as well there are new ones coming all the time!
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By: whisperinggums on October 9, 2014
at 4:22 pm
A unique voice in Australian literature that will be missed.
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By: ablay1 on October 9, 2014
at 12:28 pm
Yes, indeed, Anna. I am so grateful that you gave me the opportunity to read his last novel:)
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By: Lisa Hill on October 9, 2014
at 2:06 pm
[…] Lisa at ANZLL reviewed Rappaport Compleat – Rappaport and Rappaport’s Revenge here and also wrote ‘Vale Morris Lurie (1938-2014)’ here. […]
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By: Flying Home, Morris Lurie | theaustralianlegend on August 26, 2016
at 3:59 pm