Madeleine - A Life of Madeleine St John

Author(s): Helen Trinca

Biography & Memoir

At the age of fifteen Madeleine saw herself as a painter and pianist, but Ms Medway peereddown at Madeleine during her entrance interview in 1957 and announced: 'You know dear, I thinkyou might write.'


Madeleine would write. But not for some time. The Women in Black, a sparkling gem that beliedthe difficulties that had dogged her own life, was published when Madeleine St John was in herfifties. Her third novel, The Essence of the Thing, was shortlisted for the 1997 Booker Prize, andshe continued to write until her death in 2006.


Helen Trinca has captured the troubled life of Madeleine St John in this moving account of a remarkable writer. After the death of her mother when Madeleine was just twelve, she struggledto find her place in the world. Estranging herself from her family, and from Australia, she lived fora time in the US before moving to London where she joined Australians Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer, BruceBeresford, Barry Humphries and Clive James. In 1993, when TheWomen in Blackwas published, it was immediately clear what a marvellous writer Madeleine St Johnwas.

32.99 AUD

Stock: 0


Add to Wishlist


Product Information

* Extracts to be sought in broadsheet newspapers * Wide review coverage assured in broadsheet newspapers * Reviews expected in magazines such as Australian Women's Weekly, MindFood, The Monthly and Qantas the Australian Way, Big Issue and Australian Country & Style * Profiles expected in magazines such as Australian Bookseller & Publisher, MindFood, Good Reading and Reader's Digest * Extensive radio interviews on ABC local radio such as Mornings with John Faine and Conversations with Richard Fidler and ABC Radio National programs such as Books & Arts Daily and Late Night Live * Online coverage on websites such as Liticism, LiteraryMinded and Booktopia * Ideal Mother's Day gift * Budget for bookseller catalogues, particularly Mother's Day cats * Advertising in literary publications such as ABR and the Monthly * Advertising in bookseller newsletters * Featured in Text's newsletter and website * Social media campaign * Early reading copies available to the trade

Winner of Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australia): Non-Fiction 2014. Shortlisted for Victorian Premier's Literary Award 2014 and CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature ('The Nib') 2013. Long-listed for Stella Prize 2014.

'Seductive, hilarious, brilliantly observed, this novel shimmers with wit and tenderness.' Helen Garner on The Women in Black 'This book is like the perfect, vintage little black dress. It's beautifully constructed, it evokes another time while being mysteriously classic and up-to-date, and it makes you feel happy. I love it.' Kaz Cooke on The Women in Black 'A major minor masterpiece, a witty and poignant snapshot of Sydney the year before yesterday.' Barry Humphries on The Women in Black 'It is a deliciously spare piece of prose that deftly and sympathetically mines the psychology of a break-up.' Adelaide Advertiser on The Essence of the Thing

General Fields

  • : 9781921922848
  • : Text Publishing Company
  • : 0.356
  • : March 2013
  • : 234mm X 153mm
  • : Australia
  • : March 2013
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : 280
  • : New edition
  • : Paperback
  • : Helen Trinca