The poet, novelist and playwright Julia Darling died peacefully on Wednesday
afternoon, 13 April, after a 10-year battle with cancer. Throughout that
time she was incredibly productive in respect of her own work, and
incredibly supportive of other people's work. She was 48 years old. She was
a person of incredible warmth, kindness and courage, and I feel very
privileged to have known her.
Julia published two novels, Crocodile Soup (longlisted for the Orange Prize)
and The Taxi-Driver's Daughter, set in her beloved Newcastle and longlisted
for the Booker Prize; she had to leave her third novel unfinished, to her
great annoyance. Her two books of poetry, Sudden Collapses in Public Places
and Apology for Absence, are both published by Arc. She also wrote plays for
theatre and radio. In 2003 she was the recipient of the £60,000 Northern
Rock Award, a most deservedly popular accolade.
Her blog is at http://www.juliadarling.co.uk/ and gives a moving account of
her life over the last 3 years, humorous and totally without self-pity or
sentimentality.
Last night I attended the launch of her postcard project First Aid Kit for
the Mind, which she had so hoped to be able to attend. There was much
sadness, but the evening was undoubtedly a celebration of Julia's life and
work. Writing and writers in the North-East of England will miss her badly.
In memoriam: a lovely person.
best joanna
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