Vale John Marsden

Author and teacher John Marsden has died.

Marsden was born in 1950 in Melbourne and grew up primarily in Victoria and Tasmania before beginning a teaching career. While working at Geelong Grammar School, Marsden wrote his first book in an attempt to entice his students into reading. So Much to Tell You began a prolific and highly successful writing career; at the time of his death, Marsden had written 40 novels and won multiple awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for his debut novel. His work has been translated and published around the world.

Best known for the Tomorrow series, Marsden earned international success and acclaim with this seven-book series, selling millions of copies and having the first in the series, Tomorrow, When the War Began, chosen for the American Library Association’s (ALA) Best Books for Young Adults list in 1996.

Marsden’s passion for teaching continued through his life, and he founded two schools in regional Victoria: Candlebark, near Romsey, and Alice Miller, in Macedon.

Pan Macmillan writes: 

Pan Macmillan Australia is deeply saddened by the passing of John Marsden, a cherished author and beloved member of Pan Macmillan Australia, on 18 December 2024. We know many in the literary community and readers across the world share our grief. This legendary Australian author of more than 40 books over his distinguished writing career leaves a legacy that will forever be remembered and celebrated.

John Marsden profoundly impacted the world of literature, particularly with his enthralling young adult novels, such as the Tomorrow series, which we have previously described as ‘the best series for Australian teens of all time’. His ability to encapsulate the essence of youth struggles and aspirations in his works has left an indelible mark on readers worldwide. A storyteller like no other, John’s books were a masterclass in the creation of characters, plot, pacing and setting.

Throughout his prolific career, John’s dedication to crafting stories that resonate with young and adult audiences alike has earned him numerous accolades, endless literary awards, and a devoted following. His contribution to literature extends beyond his writing, influencing generations through teaching and advocacy for education and the Candlebark and Alice Miller schools that he founded. In 2006, John was honoured with the Lloyd O’Neil Award for his contribution to Australian publishing.

John Marsden – the great statesman of Australian literature.

We honour his legacy and are privileged to have been a part of his remarkable journey.

Author Alice Pung writes:

[John] didn’t give a crap about prestige, he had no respect for unearned authority, and when he gave a speech he always addressed the students or young people in the room instead of the eminent adults. John was an introvert – sometimes could barely look another adult in the eye – but when he spoke to young people it was truly transformative: he wiped the boredom from their faces. They sat straighter, they lit up, they laughed. He truly got them.

Author and Australian Children’s Laureate Sally Rippin writes:

In everything he wrote, John had a huge compassion and respect for young people, even if this meant circumventing social norms to write for them with genuine authenticity. He wasn’t afraid to write into dark places and explore the underside of what it meant to be human, and for this he attracted criticism along with generations of young readers who felt seen and understood. No one who read his work was unaffected. He was an unapologetically vocal and progressive thinker, who also wrote books for adults that challenged the ways we might parent or educate our children, and for this he was also occasionally lambasted. Yet I don’t know of any other writer as deeply interested and invested in childhood and education as John.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese writes:

John Marsden wanted young Australians to read more, and his writing made that happen. Vivid, funny, quintessentially Australian, he wrote with a real love for our land and a true sense of our people’s character. His was a great Australian voice that spoke to all ages, here and around the world. John’s work will live long in our national memory.

Creative Australia head of literature Wenona Byrne writes:

An educator at heart, his characters reflected the deep respect and admiration John had for young people – they were brilliant, flawed, capable, and vulnerable.  John Marsden was a brilliant writer who inspired millions of us, not just in Australia but around the world, to read and write and think creatively. His legacy as an author and an educator is profound. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends and the literary community.

Picture credit: River Ebony.

Category: Daily obituary