Blanche d'Alpuget, acclaimed biographer and former PM Bob Hawke's widow, dies aged 82

Acclaimed Australian writer and biographer Blanche d'Alpuget has died at the age of 82, her family has confirmed. She passed away due to complications from influenza.

D'Alpuget was a renowned author of biographies, novels, and essays, and her political biography of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke earned her the New South Wales Premier's Award. Her family released a statement saying she would be remembered for living fearlessly and taking delight in life.

"We will miss her force, her humour, her curiosity and her love beyond measure," the statement read.

D'Alpuget had asked her loved ones to share her final message: "Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to d'Alpuget, saying Australia had lost a "true one-off."

"Blanche's novels were compelling works of verve and originality, and her biographies comprehensive and definitive — most famously those she wrote of Bob Hawke, who became her great love and ultimately her husband," he said in a statement.

Troy Bramston, who wrote biographies about Australia's former prime ministers, recalled d'Alpuget as "larger than life, fun and vivacious, and a very talented writer."

D'Alpuget is survived by her son, Louis Pratt, from her first marriage, three Hawke step-children, and a number of step-grandchildren.