Author and Literary Icon
Acclaimed Author and Bob Hawke's Widow Blanche d’Alpuget Dies at 82
Anonymous
Key Points
1
D’Alpuget grew up as an only child in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, worked briefly in journalism and lived in England, France, Indonesia and Malaysia before returning to Australia at 30 to begin her writing career.
2
Her 1977 biography of Sir Richard Kirby was critically acclaimed and reflected her wider literary range beyond her books about Hawke; she also received the PEN Golden Jubilee Award, The Age Book of the Year and the Australasian Prize for Commonwealth Literature.
3
D’Alpuget said that when Hawke reneged on an earlier promise to marry her, she briefly contemplated killing him, telling a podcast: “I was going to stab him.” She said she abandoned the idea within about 24 hours because she did not want her six-year-old son, Louis, to grow up with a murderer as a parent.
4
The affair generated tension not only in public but within Hawke’s family: his children initially opposed d’Alpuget, while Hawke later expressed gratitude that relations between them and his second wife had eased before his death in 2019.
Australian author and biographer Blanche d'Alpuget has died at 82, her family confirmed. Perth Now reported that d'Alpuget was an acclaimed writer who won major literary awards, including the NSW Premier's Award for her biography of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. She wrote novels, essays, and historical fiction while resisting being defined solely as Hawke's second wife.
D'Alpuget is survived by her son Louis Pratt, Hawke's three children, and several grandchildren. Her family shared her final message: 'Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another.' She remained active in public life until her death.
From Jakarta Embassy to Australian Literary Stage
D'Alpuget grew up as an only child in Sydney's eastern suburbs and worked briefly in journalism before traveling. Yahoo News reported she met Bob Hawke in Jakarta in 1970 when she was a young embassy wife and budding writer. She later lived in England, France, Indonesia, and Malaysia before returning to Australia at 30 to pursue her writing career full-time.
Her early work demonstrated serious literary talent beyond her connection to Hawke. D'Alpuget's 1977 biography of industrial arbitrator Sir Richard Kirby earned critical acclaim. She also received the PEN Golden Jubilee Award, The Age Book of the Year, and the Australasian Prize for Commonwealth Literature during her prolific career.
A Relationship That Captivated and Divided Australia
D'Alpuget's affair with Hawke while he was married to Hazel Hawke generated intense public scrutiny and family tension. HeadTopics noted that Hawke's three children initially opposed the relationship. The couple eventually married in 1995 after years of controversy, and Hawke expressed gratitude before his death in 2019 that relations between his children and d'Alpuget had improved.
D'Alpuget once revealed the depths of her pain during the affair. She told a podcast that when Hawke reneged on an earlier promise to marry her, she briefly contemplated killing him: 'I was going to stab him.' She abandoned the idea within 24 hours because she did not want her six-year-old son Louis to grow up knowing his mother was a murderer.
Historical Fiction and a Literary Legacy Beyond Hawke
D'Alpuget resisted being reduced to her role as a former prime minister's wife. She wrote historical fiction exploring figures including Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, demonstrating her range as a novelist. Her body of work spanned biographies, novels, and essays that earned recognition across Australia and internationally.
She remained engaged with public life and Australian letters throughout her career. D'Alpuget's death marks the end of a remarkable literary journey that began in the 1970s and evolved far beyond the scandal that initially defined her in the public eye.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
18
Articles
116
Reach
134
A
AnonymousAuthor
