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.

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.

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.