Christine Courtenay was married to literary legend, Bryce Courtenay. On the tenth anniversary of his death, she has lovingly written and published a memoir of his extraordinary life. The book looks behind the veil to examine the formative experiences that shaped the famous novelist and raconteur.
Bryce famously wrote The Power of One, which was subsequently adapted into a successful film. He also published an unprecedented twenty one books in 23 years. Courtenay came to writing later in life having worked in mines in Africa and then a series of creative roles in advertising. He famously created Louie the Fly and Yowies, among other successful campaigns.
There are estimates that one in three Australian households own a Bryce Courtney book. His novels have been popular and this latest book may help introduce him to a new generation of readers. His books were epics that included tales of triumphs over adversity. This memoir makes you appreciate how episodes from Courtenay’s life helped inspire and shape his work.
It’s a life that had humble beginnings in South Africa. He was born the illegitimate son of a seamstress and at times he and his sister Rosemary were institutionalised. Christine draws on the latter as a source of information as well as family letters and interviews with Bryce himself. Those with the great man capture his spirit and his voice, and this book is very well-researched.
There are chapters dedicated to Bryce’s first marriage to Benita Solomon. Bryce would follow her to Australia and they would have three sons. The loss of their son Damon in 1991 from AIDS-complications following a life-saving blood transfusion for his haemophilia are devastating points that readers will be familiar with thanks to the novel April Fool’s Day.
Christine’s prose is easy to read and follow. She tells the love story they shared. It saw her originally working as his publicist before they pursued a romantic relationship and eventually married. Christine is an accomplished woman having co-founded Australian Himalayan Expeditions. The book began as her own autobiography before it changed track to describe Bryce, a man who was happiest at home gardening, watching the rugby, and working at his writing desk. He was certainly committed to his craft: he would publish his final novel Jack of Diamonds two weeks before his death from gastric cancer.
Storyteller is a heartfelt look at Bryce Courtenay’s legacy. Fans of his will enjoy this sensitive and respectful behind the scenes look at the character who was a beloved author. A personal and candid book, this is a story that is brimming with admiration and love.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Christine Courtenay’s Bryce Courtenay: Storyteller is available now from Penguin Books. Grab yourself a copy from Booktopia HERE.
