Sarah Kane was born on 3 February 1971 and committed suicide on 20 February 1999. She achieved reluctant notoriety with Blasted at the Royal Court in 1995, which, like many plays later recognised as dramatic landmarks, was villified at the time by the critics but passionately defended by many theatre practitioners. Dan Rebellato mourns the death and celebrates the life of the writer, and assesses her plays and their lasting significance.