Vale Marion Halligan
The award-winning novelist, essayist, and short story writer Marion Halligan died in Canberra on 19 February, aged 83.
Halligan was the author of 11 novels, five short story collections, and six works of nonfiction. Her first novel, Self Possession (UQP), was published in 1987 when she was 47 years old. Halligan was also chair of the Literature Board of the Australian Council from 1992 to 1995. In 2006, Halligan was made a Member of the Order of Australia ‘for service to literature as an author, to the promotion of Australian writers, and to support for literary events and professional organisations’.
The Canberra Daily writes:
‘One of Australia’s finest short story writers, Halligan’s first collection, The Living Hothouse (1988), won both the Steele Rudd Award for the best book of short stories of the year and the Braille Book of the Year. Her second, The Hanged Man in the Garden (1989), was shortlisted for three national awards.
‘Her second novel, Spider Cup (1990), drawing on her many visits to France, and pondering women’s roles as wives, was shortlisted for four national awards, and commended by the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Her nonfiction work of that year, Eat My Words, a collection of essays about food and other things, was awarded the Prize for Gastronomic Writing. In that year, too, she received the Geraldine Pascall Prize for book reviewing and criticism.
‘Lovers’ Knots: A Hundred-Year Saga (1992), set in Newcastle and based on her parents’ lives, was awarded the Age Book of the Year, the ACT Book of the Year, the 3M Talking Book of the Year, and the inaugural Nita B Kibble Literary Award.
‘The Golden Dress (1998), set in Australia and France, was shortlisted for the Dublin IMPAC Prize, the world’s most valuable award for fiction; the Miles Franklin Award; and the Nita B Kibble Award.
‘Halligan’s most personal novel, and the one she considered her best, was The Fog Garden (2001), a ‘cathedral of grief’ for her husband of 35 years, Graham, a lecturer in French at the ANU, who had died of cancer shortly before. It was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award, the South-East Asia and South Pacific region of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and the Nita B Kibble Award.
‘Two more of her novels—The Point (2003), about a restaurant and a murder in a city very like Canberra, and Valley of Grace (2009), set in Paris—were named the ACT Book of the Year. Her memoir celebrating the life of her late daughter, Words for Lucy (2022), was a finalist for the 2023 ACT Book of the Year.’
The ACT Writers Centre, which rebranded as Marion in part to honour Halligan, writes:
‘It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our dear friend, Marion Halligan. Her contributions to literature have left an indelible mark on our region and sector.
‘Marion captivated readers with her elegant prose and insightful storytelling. She was an enduring force of creativity, intellect, and compassion, and we will greatly miss Marion’s wit and wisdom.
‘We are honoured to have had Marion as our Patron for many years and acknowledge her contributions to our organisation over the past 30 years. We are truly fortunate to have shared a part of our journey with Marion Halligan.
‘Our thoughts are with Marion’s family, friends, and all who were touched by her work.
‘Marion’s legacy will endure through her words, which will continue to inspire and resonate with readers and writers long into the future.’
Picture credit: Zhenshi van der Klooster.
Category: Obituaries
