Gabrielle Carey has died at the age of 64 (Picture: Facebook)
Acclaimed author Gabrielle Carey has died at the age of 64.
The Australian writer shot to fame as a teenager for co-writing the landmark book Puberty Blues alongside friend Kathy Lette.
Puberty Blues was lauded for its honest depictions of sexism directed toward teenage girls in the 1970s in Sydney, and reflected both authors’ own experiences.
Her death was announced on Friday, with close childhood friend and co-author Lette paying tribute on social media, sharing an old photograph of the pair in their younger years.
She wrote that she was ‘deeply saddened by the tragic news about my old friend,’ adding that she had ‘such happy memories of our teenage years.’
‘They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure.’
Her childhood friend and co-writer Kathy Lette shared her pain as the news broke (Picture: Getty Images)
Carey went on to move to Ireland and Mexico to escape the spotlight before returning to her native Australia (Picture: Facebook)
Reflecting on their groundbreaking novel, Lette went on with pride: ‘We made some mischief and broke some barriers by writing “Puberty Blues“ – our raw, earthy take on the brutal treatment of young women in the Australian surfing scene which is sadly, still so relevant.
‘My heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.’
The novel was massively famous in Australia, with Carey moving away from her home country, to Ireland and later Mexico, to escape the spotlight.
She went on to release several more books, including fiction, essays and autobiographies, and eventually returned to Australia.
The author’s writing was recognised on an international level (Picture: Facebook)
Carey had developed a love for Ulysses and Dubliners writer James Joyce, and combined her passion for literature with her hobby of making jam – creating own-brand ‘Jams Joyce.’
The star was working on a book about the Irish writer when she died, The Guardian reports.
Carey and Lette’s acclaimed Puberty Blues was adapted into a film in 1981, and went on to become a two-season TV series in 2012.
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Her 1984 book Just Us, about a relationship with a prison inmate, was also adapted into a film.
Carey leaves behind two grown-up children, a daughter and a son.
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Her co-writer said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.