Blanche d’Alpuget has died aged 82.

To remember the celebrated author, activist and widow of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke listen back to this episode from 2018, when Blanche spoke to Mia Freedman about love, lust, longing and the great loves of her life. 

It was 1970 in Jakarta when a then married Blanche met a then married Robert Hawke. She thought his name was Robin. Little did she knew he would go on to become the great love of her life. Six years later, in 1976, she met Robert again. Their affair began and continued on and off until 1995 when they married. 

In person, Blanche was extraordinarily beautiful down-to-earth, quick to laugh, searingly honest and still madly in love with the man who has - along with her career and her son - been the big love of her life. She joined Mia to talk about Bob, love and her book On Lust and Longing…

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman 

With thanks to special guest Blanche d'Alpuget

Buy Blanche's book at apple.co/mamamia.

Producer: Elissa Ratliff

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.