Bryce Courtenay: Storyteller

by Christine Courtenay

Bryce Courtenay was a born storyteller. The success of his extraordinary debut The Power of One made publishing history, and in the years that followed Bryce continued to entertain and inspire thousands of devoted readers around the world with his sweeping epics and larger-than-life characters who embody the strength and triumph of the human condition.
What kind of man did it take to conjure these tales? What kind of life?
When Christine Courtenay began penning her own memoir during lockdown, she found herself increasingly drawn to the remarkable story of her late husband’s life and reflecting upon his astonishing literary legacy. From his humble beginnings in Africa to his dazzling success in advertising and as a bestselling author, Bryce’s extraordinary, rags-to-riches life story reads like one of his epic novels. It was a life marked by all the big themes – overcoming adversity, love, loss, hard-won success, fame and fortune, and holding tight to a dream.
In this telling Christine uncovers the events that shaped the man behind the stories – a man complex, driven and unfailingly positive, who never lost sight of his childhood dream to be a writer. Candid, intimate and insightful, Bryce Courtenay: Storyteller is a fascinating, loving tribute to the life and work of Australia’s most beloved and enigmatic writer.

Genres: Biography

521 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2022

About the author

Christine Courtenay (nee Gee) was born in north-eastern Victoria in 1954 and grew up on a cattle property before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. In 1975 she co-founded Australian Himalayan Expeditions, which offered trekking trips to the Himalayas, and became a world leader in adventure travel. In 1989 she created her own marketing company and was engaged by several pioneering tourism projects. She also worked alongside acclaimed authors, world-renowned mountaineers and polar explorers. Christine served as the Nepalese honorary consul-general in NSW from 1987, and as Nepal attaché during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and was a founding director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation. She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2013. Christine was Bryce Courtenay’s partner from 2005, and they married in 2011. She has a son called Nima, and continues to enjoy travelling, writing, and walking in wild and beautiful places. She lives in Sydney.

Reviews

[Nick Dorogavtsev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by the most self absorbed last wife. Almost 40% of the book if about her not Bryce. Slowly through the book everything she adds more and more comments about how it made her and her religious views. Constantly highlighting how Bryce was drinking too much.

[Louise Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRYCE COURTENAY: STORYTELLER.
By Christine Courtenay.
I don’t know about you, but Bryce Courtenay was always one of my favourite storytellers. A beautiful man with a brilliant mind who adored writing and loved nothing more than the joy his books brought to millions of readers around the world.
On a personal note, Bryce worked for my late father in law in South Africa. My father in law always tells the story how he sat Bryce down and told him his talents were wasted in South Africa and that he needed to go into the big wide world. He said, “Bryce the world is waiting for you.” He always knew Bryce would achieve great success in everything he set out to do.
Fiercely intelligent and fabulous wife, Christine Courtenay, shares so much of this giant of a man’s life with us readers, particularly his love for South Africa which I found so heartwarming. For me a highlight of this book was the love Christine and Bryce shared, their zest for life, but mostly the inspiring stories Christine intimately shared with her readers of the Bryce Courtenay we all loved.
I listened to this 450 page book in just four days. Although I felt it could have been a tiny bit shorter, this book is certainly a legacy for his fans, readers, friends and family to treasure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

**1/2
Interesting but flowery biography. I do wonder how true to life it is as Bryce is always positive and supportive of others and I feel his grumpy side is not elaborated on. He certainly did a great deal for Australian literature and inciting the public to read.

[Sandy Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Bryce Courtenay and not just his books but his lovely, kind face. His face looks comforting like a favourite uncle who has come to visit.
I do believe Christine has written an excellent book on her husband Bryce which included so much information on his early years in South Africa, England and then Australia. Many family members and friends have also contributed either through personal information or through letters that Bryce had written to them over many years so I really felt I was getting to know the real Bryce Courtenay and not just his life with his second wife.
The book is easy to read and interesting and at the end of it I was extremely sad that this great man wasn’t with us anymore. He will live on for generations to come through his books. I hope Bryce rests in peace and that all family have found peace after losing him.

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Bryce Courtenay fan- and I am one having read every novel he wrote. Christine Courtenay has written a sad, funny, and dramatic biography of the late great Bryce Courtenay and in the process provides wonderful context for the entertaining and inspiring stories he wrote. Quite rightly a Bryce Courtenay novel for Christmas was a tradition in our household with Dad saying toward the end of the year "another Bryce Courtenay book is out but don't get it". That was code for it will be under the Christmas tree for me on Christmas morning and it always was. Summer holiday reading. I'm inspired to start a re-read of those wonderful stories. Thank you to Christine Courtenay for writing a beautiful book about such an inspiring person. RIP Bryce.

[Christopher Chet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storyteller by Bryce Courtenay's darling wife, If you have ever read A Bryce Courtney Book, or ever wanted to know more about him or just love a true love story, then this is the book for you.

It definitely gave me (to quote BC) a bucket full of tears and a bellyful of laughs and definitely needs to be under the Christmas tree with the socks and Chocolates and maybe shares in Kleenex.

About the man who brought you Louie the Fly to the Power of One and many more, the story of his life, love, and passions from the start to the end, Heartbreak, Adversity, Love, Happiness, and Triumphs is a must-read.

I cried and laughed and cried some more.

[Shereen Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very personal account by someone who clearly loved him very much. It is covering the difficult times he had growing up in South Africa, his rise to fame once he moved to Australia and the moving final few years of his life.
So many stories from the storyteller, and so many amazing books what a life he had and have to thank Christine Courtenay for bringing it to light… only negative I have is I wish you read Bryce story with gusto…His life was full on, and he sounds like he was a character.

[Jimmy Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this book. Bryce Courtenay lived a fascinating life. The book is well written and narrated by his wife Christine.

Storyteller tells the account of Bryce's rough upbringing and early adulthood in South Africa during the Apartheid era, his stint in London, his move to Australia, successful career in advertising and then highly successful career as a fiction writer in 50s and onwards.

Overall, a fascinating perspective of his very interesting life.

[Warwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and comprehensive description of Bryce Courtenay's very interesting life. It is a very personal account by someone who clearly loved him very much. It covers the difficult times he had growing up in South Africa, his rise to fame once he moved to Australia and the moving final few years. The quotes from letters to his mother and from his books give insights into his personality. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who has ever read one of his books.

[Diego Atterbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Audiobook** I don’t want to mistake my love for Bryce’s story and blur that with the quality of the book. Hence 4 stars. Regardless, Christine has done such a terrific job in putting this together. A selfless account from her and has made Bryce and the people around him shine. A big book. Well worth a read/listen. Would highly recommend. Very inspiring also. Shows that any of us can do it. Bryce was a self made man. Thanks Christine. A favourite of mine.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half is very good. Interesting only because Bryce lived such an adventurous life! After author and eventual second wife Christine enters the narrative, she manages to put herself first.

This is supposed to be a memoir about Bryce, not details of Edmond Hillary’s funeral which Christine attended but Bryce did not. For this, it only gets three stars.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
I have fond memories of reading and then re-reading The Power of One, and so I thought this would be a good insight to the creative mind of Bryce Courtenay.

It was ok, but far too long. I did learn though my new trivia night fun fact . . . And the book has made me want to read more books by Bryce. Never another by his wife, though.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing memoir and insight into Bryce’s life. Christine did an amazing job to compile all aspects of Bryce’s live and intertwining references to his own works.
The final chapter is truly moving and beautifully written.

[Edith Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intimate and fascinating read about the different life challenges he faced living in Africa then England then Australia.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone who loved Bryce Courtenay's books this is a worth while read. This beautifully written memoir has me itching to reread every one of his books, some for the second or third time.

[Peter Metcalfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed Biography of A much admired Australian Storyteller , Bryce Courtenay. A man who changed Australian Book publishing.

[Annie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Courtenay has done an amazing telling of Bryce Courtnenay's life behind the stories.
Her telling contained a lot of dialogue just as you expect from Bryce "The Storyteller".

[Sam Shields-Chatelain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading of Bryce's life. Through so much hardship and success.

[Norma Bethune · Rating 3 out of 5]

borrowed from Mosgiel Library, July 2025