Maeve Binchy: The Biography - Hardcover

Dudgeon, Piers

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250047145 ISBN 13: 9781250047144

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 2014

Synopsis

Maeve Binchy's heartwarming tales of love, life, and loss made her one of America's best-loved storytellers. Her novels, which sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, captured imaginations on both sides of the Atlantic in a way that most authors only dream of. Seared with a truth and honesty that leapt from the page, her stories capture the imagination and continue to win her legions of loyal fans.

In this extraordinary biography, Piers Dudgeon reveals that the inspiration for many of her stories came from Maeve's own hard-won experience growing up in Ireland. In the land of her birth and what would become the setting of her novels, Maeve suffered through a difficult adolescence and famously lost her faith before coming to terms with who she was and expressing at last the qualities that would come to define her as both a writer and a person.

Drawing on extensive research and humorous personal anecdotes, Maeve Binchy: The Biography celebrates the life of a compassionate, down-to-earth and charming woman who touched hearts around the world and left behind an incredible legacy.

About this title

About the Author

PIERS DUDGEON is a writer, editor, and photographer. He worked for ten years as a publisher in London and then started his own company, Pilot Productions. He is the author of bestselling biographies of Catherine Cookson, Edward de Bono, the composer Sir John Tavener, and the novelists Barbara Taylor Bradford, Josephine Cox, J. M. Barrie, and Daphne du Maurier.

Review

“A loving tribute to the popular Irish writer who died two years ago at the age of 72... Piers Dudgeon, who has written biographies of writers Barbara Taylor Bradford, J.M. Barrie and Daphne du Maurier, does a deft job juxtaposing the allegorical nature of Binchy's fiction to events in her life...Dudgeon delivers a love letter penned to the late author and her fiction...fans will find new insight to their favorite Binchy works.” ―USA TODAY

“An upbeat biography of the prolific, much-loved Irish writer...Dudgeon... captures her ebullience and drive in this anecdotal biography.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“An engaging and vivid portrait.” ―Irish Central

“This sensitive and comprehensive biography is a celebration of the talent, optimism and humanity of a much-loved author who brought so much pleasure to many.” ―Good Book Guide

“This joy of a biography is an absolute must for fans of the treasured Irish author... Written with warmth, wit and many a colorful anecdote... A vivid portrait of a generous-hearted, funny and consummate storyteller.” ―Hello! Magazine (UK)

“Those who loved Maeve and her writing will be grateful that her life has been dutifully documented, and that she has formally taken her place in the canon of Irish literary and media life.” ―Irish Independent

“Dudgeon paints Binchy as a lively and vivacious lover of life in this warm and often humorous record of a woman who was determined to be her own person.” ―Irish Post

About this edition

• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1250047145
• ISBN 13: 9781250047144
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352