Madeleine: A Life of Madeleine St John
Helen Trinca
This is the first, and the definitive, biography of one of Australia’s most significant writers.
At the age of fifteen Madeleine saw herself as a painter and pianist, but Ms Medway peered down at Madeleine during her entrance interview in 1957 and announced: ‘You know dear, I think you might write.’
Madeleine would write. But not for some time. The Women in Black, a sparkling gem that belied the difficulties that had dogged her own life, was published when Madeleine St John was in her fifties. Her third novel, The Essence of the Thing, was shortlisted for the 1997 Booker Prize, and she 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 struggled to find her place in the world. Estranging herself from her family, and from Australia, she lived for a time in the US before moving to London where Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer, Bruce Beresford, Barry Humphries and Clive James were making their mark. In 1993, when The Women in Black was published, it became clear what a marvellous writer Madeleine St John was.
Media highlights:
Review, Spectator UK
Interview, ABC Sydney Drive
Interview, ABC Radio National Late Night Live
Interview, The Wheeler Centre
Interview, ABC Classic FM Midday
Interview, 4ZZZ FM
Review, Sydney Review of Books
Review, ANZ LitLovers LitBlog
At the launch of Madeleine, Richard Walsh spoke about his own experience of the St John family. Read the speech in full, here.
At the UK launch of Madeleine, L&R Bookshop, Notting Hill: Bruce Beresford, Sarah Lutyens and Helen Trinca
