Jerusalem (CNN) Revered Israeli author Amos Oz has died of cancer, his daughter said Friday. He was 79.

"My beloved father, Amos Oz, a wonderful family man, an author, a man of peace and moderation, died today peacefully after a short battle with cancer," Fania Oz-Salzberger wrote on her Twitter account Friday.

"He was surrounded by his lovers and knew it to the end. May his good legacy continue to amend the world."

My beloved father, Amos Oz, a wonderful family man, an author, a man of peace and moderation, died today peacefully after a short battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his lovers and knew it to the end.

May his good legacy continue to amend the world. — Fania Oz-Salzberger פניה עוז-זלצברגר (@faniaoz) December 28, 2018

One of Israel's most prominent and prolific authors of both fiction and nonfiction, he was best known for his novel "Black Box," for his collection of essays "In the Land of Israel" and his autobiographical novel "A Tale of Love and Darkness." He was a longtime candidate for the Nobel Prize for literature.

"A story of love and light and now darkness. A great sorrow comes down on us ... ," Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said, according to his spokesman.

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