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Madeleine

Madeleine: A Life of Madeleine St John

Helen Trinca

  • awardWinner, Prime Minister's Literary Award for Non-fiction, 2014
  • awardShortlisted, Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, 2014
  • awardShortlisted, The Nib: Waverley Library Award for Literature, 2013
  • awardLonglisted, Stella Prize, 2014
  • 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

    At the UK launch of Madeleine, L&R Bookshop, Notting Hill: Bruce Beresford, Sarah Lutyens and Helen Trinca

    Helen Trinca
    About the Author

    Helen Trinca has co-written two previous books: Waterfront: The Battle that Changed Australia and Better than Sex: How a Whole Generation Got Hooked on Work. She has held senior reporting and editing roles in Australian journalism, including a stint as the Australian’s London correspondent, and is currently Managing Editor of the Australian. Her...

    Read Moreright
    Extent:
    288pp
    Format:
    Paperback
    Text publication date:
    3 September 2018
    ISBN:
    9781925773071
    AU Price:
    $24.99
    NZ Price:
    $30.00
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    Other editions ofMadeleine
    • Madeleine
      ebook
      ISBN: 9781921961137
      20 March 2013
      Buy ebook