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'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.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Review : Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St John
2014
single work
review
— Appears in: Reviews in Australian Studies , vol. 8 no. 1 2014;
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Tortured Genius
2014
single work
review
— Appears in: The Spectator , 18 January 2014; (p. 35)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Well Read
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 6 April 2013; (p. 26)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Keeping the Darkness at Bay
2013-
single work
review
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , April 2013;
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Shadow of Sadness
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 20 April 2013; (p. 21)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography
-
The Essence of the Thing
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 30 March 2013; (p. 18)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Untitled
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Monthly , April no. 88 2013; (p. 56)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Portrait of a Troubled Lady
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 20-21 April 2013; (p. 30-31) The Age , 20 April 2013; (p. 24)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Shadow of Sadness
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 20 April 2013; (p. 21)
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
Keeping the Darkness at Bay
2013-
single work
review
— Appears in: Sydney Review of Books , April 2013;
— Review of Madeleine : A Life of Madeleine St. John 2013 single work biography -
The People's Nib
2013
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28-29 September 2013; (p. 29)
Awards
- 2014 joint winner Prime Minister's Literary Awards — Non-Fiction With Gabrielle Carey's Moving Among Strangers.
- 2014 longlisted The Stella Prize
- 2014 shortlisted Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Award for Non-Fiction
- 2013 winner 'The Nib': CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature Mark and Evette Moran Nib Award for Literature — The Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize
- 2013 shortlisted Mark and Evette Moran Nib Award for Literature