Rob Lacey, award-winning British author and performance artist, died this week after a battle with cancer. He was 43.

Lacey is best-known for The Word on the Street (originally published as The Street Bible in the U.K.), a retelling of the entire Bible in modern British “street” English, which was honored as the Book of the Year in 2004 by the Christian Booksellers Convention (CBC) in the U.K.

Additionally, Borders named The Word on the Street to its 2004 list of best books in Religion and Spirituality. During the writing of the book in 2000, Lacey was diagnosed a second time with advanced bladder cancer. In 2002, his cancer went into remission but resurfaced late last year.

“Rob's innovative approach and contagious energy-both through his books and his performance art-engaged a new generation, providing a fresh experience with God's Word,” said Doug Lockhart, Zondervan president and CEO. “We are saddened at the loss of our dear friend and colleague but honored to have been a part of Rob's legacy, which has touched so many lives.”

Besides being an author, Lacey trained at the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre, was a founding member of the Trapdoor Theatre Company, and with his wife founded and was co-artistic director of The Gate Arts and Training Center in Cardiff, Wales.

In addition to The Word on the Street, Lacey wrote The Liberator, which released in March from Zondervan, a paraphrase of the Gospels; The Poisoned Pool, a self-published graphic novel; and Are We Getting Through (Silverfish), a communication resource book.

In addition to The Word on the Street, Lacey wrote The Liberator, which released in March from Zondervan, a paraphrase of the Gospels; The Poisoned Pool, a self-published graphic novel; and Are We Getting Through (Silverfish), a communication resource book.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Harnisch-Lacey, and two children, Lukas and Magdalena.

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