LONDON (AP) — Margaret Forster, the author of "Georgy Girl" and more than 20 other novels, has died in London after suffering from cancer in the back and spine. She was 77.

Her husband, Hunter Davies, said she died Monday at a hospice in London. The couple spent much of their time in England's peaceful Lake District and also in London.

Davies, also an author, said she underwent a double mastectomy 40 years ago and recovered fully, but the cancer returned to her back 10 years ago.

"I thought she was a goner," he said of her initial bout with cancer.

"It was bad, but eventually she recovered. At age 50 on her birthday, she got up at 5 (a.m.) and ran up Red Pike mountain and then swam in the lake and came back to the house and brought me tea," he said.

Davies said the cancer made it impossible for his wife of 55 years to sit for extended periods because of the pain, which also prevented her from going out to restaurants and movies.

The Royal Society of Literature issued a statement describing her as "an extraordinarily prolific and gifted writer of fiction, non-fiction and literary criticism."

"Georgy Girl" was made into a hit movie in 1966 starring Lynn Redgrave, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates and James Mason. Forster co-wrote the screenplay for the film, which also inspired a bouncy pop tune that captured the exuberance of the times.

Forster taught at a girls' school in north London before she started to write books.

Davies said her novel "How to Measure a Cow" will be published in March.