David Malouf, Australian writer whose work spanned the ancient world and 70s Brisbane – obituary

Remembering Babylon was shortlisted for the Booker prize but none of his novels were made into films because, he said, ‘almost nothing happens’ David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92 From reimagined Greek and Roman classics to the exploration of identity and morality in the suburbs and landscapes of Australia, David Malouf successfully merged his passion for literature, language and imagination with his connection to home to become one of Australia’s most celebrated writers. Malouf, who has died aged 92, wrote of characters who transcended time and place. His novels explored ideas of identity and post-colonialism, but also broader themes – life and death, liberty and conflict, virtue and vice – and the interaction of these opposing forces in creating tension and temptation. “In most of my books and stories, the central character suffers some sort of disruption – loss of innocence if you like, or of the self – and has to work through to wholeness, or healing,” he told Colm Tóibín in 2007. His home town of Brisbane and the challenging and vast landscapes of Australia were significant influences in his creative output, which