"Jean herself was a force of nature; with her booming voice and her strong ideas about life and politics; a much-loved writer whose work was among the most influential in the last century; a lifelong and powerful presence in the publishing industry whose impact cannot be measured solely by the millions of books she sold all over the world," Knowlton said in a statement. "The legacy she leaves behind for those of us at Curtis Brown who act so proudly on her behalf is that of a passionate and fearless naturalist, teacher, and artist. We are so grateful for the many years of good memories, and for all her beloved books that will live on forever."