Remembering Maeve Binchy, 1940-2012
Maeve Binchy was born in Dalkey, a Dublin suburb. She was the eldest of four children. After graduating from the University College Dublin, she worked as a teacher and journalist before devoting her life to fiction writing.
Her debut novel, Light a Penny Candle was rejected five times before it was finally published in 1982. Tara Road, a novel about an Irish and an American women trading houses to escape personal problems was selected by Oprah Winfrey for her book club. It became an international bestseller.
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She briefly retired from writing in 2000 following the publication of Scarlet Feather but relented after 800 letters of protest were sent to The Irish Times newspaper. She went on to publish another five novels–Quentins, Nights of Rain and Stars, Whitethorn Woods, Heart and Soul and Minding Frankie. One final book, A Week in Winter is scheduled for release in October 2012.
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In recent years her mobility had become restricted due to painful arthritis and a heart condition.
Maeve Binchy died on July 30 following a brief illness.
4 thoughts on “Remembering Maeve Binchy, 1940-2012”
How sad. I loved her books.
I loved how she linked her books. You felt you were getting to know a whole community.
So sad …her books were wonderful . She was ans always will be on of my favorite authors.
I met Maeve Binchy in the 1980’s at a book signing for Light a Penny Candle. A wonderful smile and she made you feel as if you were an old friend. I kept my book never loaning it, only to my mum.
So many wonderful books. Now so many left unwritten. This is a sad day in a lot of people’s lives. Maeve Binchy had a great gift, an ability to write about the ordinary. May God bless her.
I still have one gift from Maeve. I have not yet read Minding Frankey.
I will wait for a special day to start it and say goodbye to Ms. Bichy with a smile and a prayer. May God bless you for giving us up so munch.