Author Julian Barnes married in secret ahead of his 80th birthday while battling a rare form of blood cancer. Mr Barnes said he never expected to 'start again' when his first wife, literary agent Pat Kavanagh, died from a brain tumour in 2008 - adding that she gave him her blessing to find love again. His romantic relationship with Ms Cugnoni began eight years ago, just a of couple years before his cancer diagnosis. At the time, Ms Cugnoni had said his celebratory speech was so fantastic she would like him to eventually make a speech at her wedding. The newly weds have known each other for 30 years as Ms Cugnoni was Mr Barnes's publisher at Vintage.

Source: Daily Mail January 17, 2026 14:36 UTC