Maeve Binchy Snell (28 May 1939[1] â€" 30 July 2012) was an Irish
novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her
novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous
portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings.[2][3]
Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40
million copies worldwide, and her death at age 73, announced by
Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned
as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable
writers.[4][5][6][7]She appeared in the US market, featuring on The
New York Times best-seller list and in Oprah's Book Club.[8]
Recognised for her "total absence of malice"[9] and generosity to
other writers, she finished 3rd in a 2000 poll for World Book Day,
ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.[4][10]Anne
Maeve Binchy[1] was born on 28 May 1939[1] in Dalkey, the oldest of
the four children of William and Maureen (née Blackmore) Binchy. Her
siblings include one brother, William Binchy, Regius Professor of Laws
at Trinity College, Dublin, and two sisters: Irene "Renie" (who
predeceased Binchy), and Joan, Mrs Ryan.[11] Her uncle was the
historian D. A. Binchy (1899â€"1989). Educated at St Anne's (then
located at No 35 Clarinda Park East), Dún Laoghaire, and later at
Holy Child Killiney,[12] she went on to study at University College
Dublin (where she earned a bachelor's degree in history),[2][3][13]
she worked as a teacher[2][14] of French, Latin, and history at
various girls' schools,[12][13][15] then a journalist at The Irish
Times,[2] and later became a writer of novels, short stories, and
dramatic works.[16][17][18]
novelist, playwright, short story writer, columnist, and speaker. Her
novels were characterised by a sympathetic and often humorous
portrayal of small-town life in Ireland, and surprise endings.[2][3]
Her novels, which were translated into 37 languages, sold more than 40
million copies worldwide, and her death at age 73, announced by
Vincent Browne on Irish television late on 30 July 2012, was mourned
as the death of one of Ireland's best-loved and most recognisable
writers.[4][5][6][7]She appeared in the US market, featuring on The
New York Times best-seller list and in Oprah's Book Club.[8]
Recognised for her "total absence of malice"[9] and generosity to
other writers, she finished 3rd in a 2000 poll for World Book Day,
ahead of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Stephen King.[4][10]Anne
Maeve Binchy[1] was born on 28 May 1939[1] in Dalkey, the oldest of
the four children of William and Maureen (née Blackmore) Binchy. Her
siblings include one brother, William Binchy, Regius Professor of Laws
at Trinity College, Dublin, and two sisters: Irene "Renie" (who
predeceased Binchy), and Joan, Mrs Ryan.[11] Her uncle was the
historian D. A. Binchy (1899â€"1989). Educated at St Anne's (then
located at No 35 Clarinda Park East), Dún Laoghaire, and later at
Holy Child Killiney,[12] she went on to study at University College
Dublin (where she earned a bachelor's degree in history),[2][3][13]
she worked as a teacher[2][14] of French, Latin, and history at
various girls' schools,[12][13][15] then a journalist at The Irish
Times,[2] and later became a writer of novels, short stories, and
dramatic works.[16][17][18]
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