Australia Council mourns John Hooker

The Australia Council for the Arts today expressed its sadness at the passing of writer and publisher John Hooker.

Mr Hooker was the author of seven novels, including The Bush Soldiers and Beyond the Pale, that featured strong psychological and landscape elements. He also worked as publishing director at Penguin Books and Collins publishers.

The Australia Council recognised Mr Hooker with a writers emeritus award in 2001.

The Australia Council joins with the rest of the literary community in mourning his loss.