Taiwanese gourmet and writer Lucille Han (韓良露) died of a rare cancer on Tuesday, aged 57.
Han was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma, which affects the muscle and supporting tissues of the uterus, about two months ago, after a trip to France with her husband in January, one of her friends said.
Despite treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital after returning to Taiwan, Han died early on Tuesday morning at the hospital.
Photo courtesy of WebGene
Han, who began publishing poetry at 16, is known for writing about topics including food, music, movies and travel inspired by her stays in the UK and trips to about 60 other countries.
She also wrote prose and scripts for TV and movies, which won her prizes including the Taipei Literature Award and the Golden Bell Award — Taiwan’s highest honors for radio and TV.
In 2007, the Kaohsiung native cofounded “South Village” near National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, a social enterprise that offers food as well as creative and cultural events in support of the “slow food movement.”
Han has also been active in other food crusades including the campaign for healthier food, as well as the protest against the poor-quality yet high-price food sold at the nation’s airports.
Han is the second high-profile local food writer to die this year. In mid-February, Wang Hsuan-yi (王宣一), mother of London-based Taiwanese fashion designer Apu Jan (詹朴), died of heart failure during a trip to Italy.
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