Institute of Jamaica mourns passing of Winkler

The Institute of Jamaica has expressed its "deepest regret" at the recent passing of noted Jamaican born novelist, Anthony C. Winkler.

Winkler, who died on September 18 at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, was presented with his Musgrave Gold medal for distinguished eminence in the field of Literature in 2014, ten years after he won the Musgrave Silver Medal in the same category.

In a statement on Tuesday, Anne Marie Bonner, Executive Director of the Institute,  said she was "deeply saddened" at the passing of Mr Winkler, whom she credited with "lifting the standard of Jamaican literature over the years, winning international acclaim and enduring admiration."

Ms Bonner drew reference to his courage and determination last October, when he traveled to Jamaica, despite ill-health, to receive his Gold Musgrave Award. In the citation, Winkler was dubbed Jamaica’s Mark Twain, “bristling with savage Jamaican wit and heart-stopping compassion.”

Anthony Winkler won many awards during his "enduring career," the IOJ said, highlighting the fact that in 2014 he won the Townsend Prize for Fiction for his book, God Carlos, an exploration of Spanish brutality towards the Taino population in early sixteenth-century Jamaica.

Most Jamaicans will know Mr. Winkler from his book, The Lunatic, published in 1987. The book proved to be so popular that a film adaptation starring Jamaican, Paul Campbell was made and released in the island in 1990 and premiered in the United States in 1992.

His novel the “Annihilation of Fish” also made into film.

Mr. Winkler was born in Kingston in 1942 and attended Excelsior High School in Kingston, Mt. Alvernia High School and the Cornwall College in St. James.

"The Chairman and Council of the Institute of Jamaica extend condolences to his wife Cathy, daughter Becky and son Adam," the statement concluded.