MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik), Anastasia Raevskaya — Colleen McCullough, the worldwide famous Australian author, known for her romantic bestseller ‘The Thorn Birds’ died Thursday at the age of 77.
McCullough started writing poems and stories when she was a small child. However, she considered it a hobby and decided to devote herself to a medical career. Unfortunately, McCullough could not become a surgeon – a girlhood dream – as she suffered dermatitis from surgical soap. She decided to become a neuroscientist and worked in this field in Australia, UK and the United States before switching to writing.
Vale Colleen McCullough - Sydney schoolgirl, Norfolk Islander, amazing Aussie author #thornbirds #firstmaninrome pic.twitter.com/rbaKLoYQ0X
— Tribes of Sydney (@tribesofsydney) 29 января 2015
#ThornBirds author Colleen McCullough dies aged 77 #history http://t.co/dMfBLUrlxw pic.twitter.com/dwItWiu3kU
— Trending History (@Historylizer) 29 января 2015
Vale Colleen McCullough. You were one of the best. #storyteller #Rome #Thornbirds
— Samantha Elley (@Mannii) 29 января 2015
Her love saga “The Thorn Birds” was published in 1977 and made her famous worldwide. The roman was made into a popular mini-series in 1983, starring the beautiful Rachel Ward and charming Richard Chamberlain.
A true Australian broad, who did it her way. Vale Colleen McCullough. #Thornbirds #ColleenMcCullough
— Jo Taylor (@heavehojo) 29 января 2015
The movie tells dramatic love story of a young Meggie Cleary and a parish priest Ralph de Bricassart.The action takes place in Australia, on a large estate called Drogheda, where Meggie moved with her family from New Zealand as a child.
Meggie met Ralph as a small girl, when he was sent to Australia by the Catholic Church as punishment for an act of disobedience.
When Meggie grows up, she falls in love with the charming and handsome Catholic priest.
Her love is reciprocal…
…but tragic, as Ralph is torn between his own feelings for Meggie, his love for God and desire to make a church career.
When Ralph chooses the church and goes back to Vatican, Meggie, left all alone, marries a sheep shearer named Luke O'Neill. She bears him a daughter, but their marriage failes and Meggie leaves her rude and despotic husband.
After a few years, Ralph returns to Australia and finally gives in to his feelings for Meggie. Their love scene on an island was called by the Newsweek "the most erotic love scene ever to ignite the home screen."
However, Ralph is still not able to sacrifice the church, though the feelings for Meggie will follow him through all his life.
