Renowned British author P.D. James died Thursday at her home in Oxford, England, her agent and publisher confirmed. She was 94.
Publishing her first novel Cover Her Face when she was 42, James went on to pen more than 20 books, including the post-apocalyptic Children of Men, the Pride and Prejudice sequel Death Comes to Pemberley and the Adam Dalgliesh detective books. Many of her works were adapted as films and TV dramas.
Born Phyllis Dorothy James, she was a life peer in England's House of Lords.
"This is a very sad day for us at Faber," her publisher Faber and Faber said in a statement.
"It is difficult to express our profound sadness at losing P.D. James, one of the world's great writers and a Faber author since her first publication in 1962," the message continued. "She was so very remarkable in every aspect of her life, an inspiration and great friend to us all. It is a privilege to publish her extraordinary books. Working with her was always the best of times, full of joy. We will miss her hugely."
This is a very sad day for us at Faber - we will miss P. D. James hugely. pic.twitter.com/ByUIdsat5V— Faber & Faber (@FaberBooks) November 27, 2014