(May, 28 1940 – July, 30 2012)
My mother hoped I would meet a nice doctor or barrister or accountant who would marry me and take me to live in what is now called Fashionable Dublin Four. But she felt that this was a vain hope. I was a bit loud to make a nice professional wife, and anyway, I was too keen on spending my holidays in far flung places to meet any of these people. The future leaders of society did not holiday on the decks of cheap boats, or work in kibbutzim in Israel or mind children as camp counsellors in the United States. She abandoned this hope on my behalf and got great value out of my escapades in foreign parts. I wrote marvellous long rambling letters home from these trips, editing out the bits they didn’t need to know, bits about falling in love with highly unsuitable foreigners. In fact my parents were so impressed with these eager letters from abroad they got them typed and sent them to a newspaper and that’s how I became a writer.
– From Maeve Binchy’s Website, www.maevebinchy.com
Would any of us know as much as we do about Ireland if it weren’t for this amazing author? Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle was published in 1982 and became a best seller. It was rejected five times by publishers. She went on to publish many more books and short stories and sold 40 million books worldwide.
Due for release in October 2012
Love her!!!! So excited there will be a book in October!
I am so sad to see her go but, on her behalf, know she is in a better place. I have devoured every book she has written and I will definitely read all of them again. When I read her books, I feel transported to Ireland. Some of the novels have the same characters and I feel I know them personally. That was just the kind of writer she was. I am thrilled there is one more book coming but I will really miss her wit and storytelling.
It has been a while since I read one of her books. Might have to just move one up the ol’ TBR pile.
I loved Maeve Binchy as a teenager! Come to think of it, there is no reason why i shouldn’t pick up some of these books again….I enjoyed them when I was 15 years old and I know I’ll enjoy them again today. I really felt as though I was there in Ireland when I read her books, and I would share them with my mom because they were so good. She was a gifted storyteller and will be dearly missed.