'Never nasty, always naughty': Blanche d'Alpuget was far more than just Bob Hawke's wife

Blanche d'Alpuget, the woman who outshone her husband Bob Hawke in both notoriety and biography, passed away on Wednesday. Far from being just a supporting wife, Ms d'Alpuget was a formidable figure in her own right. Her biographies of her late husband, while well-known, were merely the tip of the iceberg when it came to her own literary achievements.

Ms d'Alpuget herself was a complex character, refusing to be defined solely by her association with the former Prime Minister. In the aftermath of Hawke's death, she maintained her strong sense of self, dismissing the hostility directed towards her with a matter-of-fact attitude. The story of their relationship began in 1970 when the two met in Jakarta, with Ms d'Alpuget completely unaware of Hawke's stature.

Despite this, she found him intriguing and of "extremely good character". Their relationship evolved over the years, culminating in a biographical work that aimed to set the record straight on Hawke's relationship with former Prime Minister Paul Keating. Ms d'Alpuget's work extended beyond political biographies, encompassing essays on love, lust, and historical fiction.

Despite her vast literary output, she remained resolute in her choice of subjects, refusing to write about her dislike for historical figure King Richard I of England. Her final days were spent in Hawke's presence as he took his final breath, with Ms d'Alpuget by his side. Her legacy is one of authenticity and a refusal to be reduced to a mere footnote in someone else's story.