We are greatly saddened to learn of the death of Dorothy Reading, who passed away in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Dorothy Reading was one of the founders of Readings when it opened in 1969, and her contribution to the landscape of Australian literature has been enormous. Dorothy also received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division, celebrating her pioneering role in the creation of major cancer prevention screenings. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Our Managing Director Mark Rubbo said:

‘I first met Dot Reading as a customer of Readings around 1970, and later got to know her better when I opened my record shop, Professor Longhairs, just up the road from Readings.

'Dot introduced me to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and many other authors. She was a wonderful, dynamic and passionate person. I was so pleased that she was able to participate in Readings 50th birthday celebrations earlier in the year; she is very much part of the Readings story.’