Bryce Courtenay’s iconic debut novel, The Power of One, opens with the simple but unforgettable line, ‘This is what happened.’ A born storyteller, Bryce claimed that these words formed the beginning of the eternal story we have wanted to hear since the dawn of time. Yet he never chose to write his autobiography. He would say, ‘What would be interesting about it?’ and he would then quote his friend and fellow Australian writer Morris West, who said, ‘There’s just one problem about writing an autobiography: I don’t much care for the central character.’
Perhaps Bryce also agreed with the sentiments of his great literary hero, Charles Dickens, who wrote, ‘I rest my claims to the remembrance of my country upon my published works . . .’
In April 2020 I sat down at my desk in Sydney and began to write a memoir of sorts of my own – the story of having co-founded in 1975 a pioneering adventure travel company called Australian Himalayan Expeditions. I eventually came to write a chapter that told the story of how Bryce and I first met in 1993. I wrote a second chapter, and then a third and a fourth! It was clear that I had unexpectedly veered away from writing my own story to writing a memoir about my late husband.
It was a nerve-racking revelation at the time, but I felt encouraged when recalling Bryce’s words from The Power of One: ‘First with the head and then with the heart, you’ll be ahead from the start.’ I had in fact considered writing about Bryce’s life while he was still alive, but he had retorted to this idea, with a loving grin, ‘Darling, don’t you think one writer in the family is quite enough?’ But ultimately the timing felt right, and the urge to continue writing about Bryce’s life grew stronger.
Slowly, chapter after chapter, the book began to take shape. I hoped that somehow, I might even end up securing a tick of approval from the spirit of the master storyteller himself.
To be Bryce’s wife was both a joy and a privilege, and I remain proud of the contribution I made to our years together. Not long after we became a couple, he said, ‘I love you very deeply, and we make a fantastic team, but you do realise you have taken on a full-time job looking after me? Plus, for seven months a year you’re a writer’s widow while you wait for me to finish each book.’
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