Australian Author John Marsden Dies At 74

John Marsden, teacher and author of Tomorrow, When the War Began, has died aged 74.

His death was confirmed by the two schools he founded, who wrote in a letter to parents that “he died at his desk, in his home, doing what he loved, writing.”

Marsden was first published in 1987 with his debut novel So Much To Tell You. He would go on to write and edit more than 40 books, including The Rabbits, Letters from the Inside, and Tomorrow, When the War Began, which grew to a seven book series. The Tomorrow series were hugely successful, and was adapted into a film in 2010, and a television series in 2016.

In 2000, the Swedish government named Tomorrow, When the War Began as the book most likely to inspire a love of reading in young people, and funded the printing and distribution of the book to hundreds of thousands of teenagers.

Tomorrow was named Australia’s favourite Australian book through a government poll in 2013.

His publisher, Pan Macmillan Publishing, said in a statement that John’s “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.”

In a post commemorating the author’s death this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 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.”

“John’s work will live long in our national memory.”

Enduring figure and friend

Marsden became an English teacher at the age of 28 and continued teaching full time for much of his career.

In 2006, Marsden founded Candlebark School, an alternative primary school in regional Victoria, and then the Alice Miller School in 2016, an arts-focused secondary school. He served as principle at both.

In a eulogy written by author Alice Pung, Marsden was described as a literary and educational giant, and dear friend.

“I still can’t believe I will never see him again. But always philosophical about life, he once wrote to tell me:

I was trying to figure out this morning, in a vague existential sort of way, why we attach so much importance to our lives when, without a religious belief, it’s hard to know why they have any value or purpose of meaning. Needless to say, I couldn’t come up with any answers :-)

John’s smiley face emoticon conclusion said everything – about his inquiring mind, his ability to hold doubt central to his life, and yet still feel cheerful hope despite not finding definite answers. His joy was a hard-won one, and his love and concern for others was expansive.”