The partner of author Margaret Attwood has died during her book tour for her latest novel The Testaments.
Graeme Gibson, 85, a Canadian novelist and conservationist, lost his battle with dementia in London yesterday, surrounded by his loved ones.
His death comes just a week after the release of The Testaments, the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
In a statement, Ms Atwood said "We are devastated by the loss of Graeme, our beloved father, grandfather, and spouse, but we are happy that he achieved the kind of swift exit he wanted and avoided the decline into further dementia that he feared.
"He had a lovely last few weeks, and he went out on a high, surrounded by love, friendship and appreciation. We are grateful for his wise, ethical, and committed life."
The couple have been together for over four decades after first meeting in the 1970s.
One journalist wrote that "Every woman writer should be married to Graeme Gibson," which Atwood got printed on a t-shirt.
She told The Telegraph in 2013: "He thought it was funny.
"He's pretty good he mostly just keeps out of the way.
"And I don't show him my books before they're in print. I recommend it. Supposing your spouse doesn't like your work then you're in trouble."
