Janet Frame, arguably New Zealand’s most distinguished writer, has died at the age of 79, in Dunedin Hospital. She learnt on her birthday last August that she was suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia, a terminal cancer.

Frame published 11 novels, five collections of short stories and a poetry collection. Her autobiography, An Angel at My Table, was filmed by Jane Campion.

Frame was a member of the Order of New Zealand and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature. For more information about her life and achievements, see her author page on the Book Council site.