Jim Harrison, 78, a writer and poet, who penned the famous 1979 novel "Legends of the Fall" died on Saturday at his home in Patagonia, Ariz.

Harrison's death was confirmed by his publisher, Grove Atlantic, but his cause of death has not yet been determined.

"We are very sad to hear about his death," Grove Atlantic CEO Morgan Entrekin said. "He left a great body of work that is going to live on."

The author has nearly 40 publications to his name, including novels, a collection of poems as well as essays about food. Harrison, who recently released the novel "The Ancient Minstrel" was considered a prodigy in the novella genre, which is basically a short novel or a long short story.

The Michigan native is best known for "Legends of the Fall," a collection of three novels that tell the tale of three brothers and their father living in the plains of Montana. The World War I-era novella was turned into a film starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins in 1994.

Born in Grayling, Mich. in 1937, Harrison was blinded in one eye in an accident at the age of 7. He graduated from Michigan State University and taught English at Stony Brook University before taking up a career in writing.

Harrison published his first book of poetry, "Plain Song," in 1965 and launched his first novel, "Wolf," in 1971. The book, which revolved around an aging publisher who turns into a werewolf, was adapted into a 2007 film by Harrison and Wesley Strick and featured Jack Nicholson in the lead role.

The 1990 film "Revenge," about a man who seeks vengeance after being left for dead in the Mexican desert, was also based on Harrison's novel of the same name. The film's cast included Kevin Costner, Madeline Stowe and Anthony Quinn.

The author was also a known outdoorsman and food lover and when he took a break from writing, he usually went hiking or fishing. Harrison's social circle included the likes of Nicholson, John Huston, Bill Murray and Jimmy Buffett.

Harrison's wife, Linda King, passed away in October last year. He is now survived by his two daughters, a sister, a brother and three grandchildren.

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