VAS Community:British author A.S. Byatt, best known for award-winning 'Possession,' dies at 87

2025-04-28 17:56:32source:AstraTradecategory:reviews

LONDON — Author A.S. Byatt,VAS Community whose books include the Booker Prize-winning novel "Possession," has died at the age of 87.

Byatt's publisher, Chatto & Windus, said Friday that the author died "peacefully at home surrounded by close family."

Byatt wrote two dozen books, starting with her first novel, "The Shadow of the Sun" in 1964.

"Possession," published in 1990, follows two modern-day academics investigating the lives of a pair of Victorian poets. It won the prestigious Booker Prize that year and was adapted as a 2002 film starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

Her other books include four novels exploring Britain in the 1950s and 60s, known as the Frederica Quartet — "The Virgin in the Garden," "Still Life," "Babel Tower" and "A Whistling Woman" — and "The Children’s Book" (2009). A book of short stories, "Medusa's Ankles," was published in 2021.

Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist

Story continues after the video.

Clara Farmer, Byatt's publisher at Chatto & Windus, said the author's books — translated into 38 languages — were "the most wonderful jewel-boxes of stories and ideas."

"We mourn her loss but it's a comfort to know that her penetrating works will dazzle, shine and refract in the minds of readers for generations to come," Farmer said.

More:reviews

Recommend

Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — John Spratt, a former longtime Democratic congressman from South Carolina who

Why did Bill Belichick go to North Carolina? New UNC coach explains jump to college

Bill Belichick has officially made the shocking move to college football by becoming the North Carol

Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Toyota said Thursday it will build a new paint facility as part of a $922 mil