Marian Keyes
| Marian Keyes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
10 September 1963 Limerick, Ireland |
| Occupation | Writer, novelist |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | Dublin University |
| Period | 1995–present |
| Genre | Women's literature |
| Subject | Domestic violence, drug abuse, mental illness, divorce and alcoholism |
| Notable works |
Fiction Watermelon (1995) Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1996) This Charming Man (2008) |
| Spouse | Tony Baines (m. 1995) |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Marian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women's literature. She is an Irish Book Awards winner. Over 22 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 32 languages.[1] She became known worldwide for Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, and This Charming Man, with themes including domestic violence and alcoholism.
Biography
Born in Limerick and raised in Monkstown, Keyes graduated from Dublin University with a law degree. After completing her studies, Keyes took an administrative job before moving to London in 1986. During this period she developed alcoholism and clinical depression, culminating in a suicide attempt and subsequent rehabilitation in 1995 at the Rutland Centre in Dublin, Ireland.
Keyes began writing short stories while suffering from alcoholism. After her treatment at the Rutland Centre she returned to her job in London and submitted her short stories to Poolbeg Press. The publisher encouraged her to submit a full-length novel and Keyes began work on her first book, Watermelon. The novel was published the same year.
Since 1995 she has published 12 novels and three works of nonfiction. After a long hiatus due to severe depression, a food title, Saved by Cake, was released in February 2012.[2] Keyes currently lives in Dún Laoghaire with her husband Tony Baines, after returning to Ireland from London in 1997.
Keyes has written frankly about her clinical depression.,[1] which left her unable to sleep, read, write, or talk.[3]
In 2014, after Keyes went on Marian Finucane's RTÉ One show to talk about her new book, she told her Twitter followers that Finucane had the "compassion and empathy of a cardboard box. Even my mammy called her a bad word".[4]
Style
Although many of her novels are known as comedies, they revolve around dark themes often drawn from Keyes' own experiences, including domestic violence, drug abuse, mental illness, divorce and alcoholism.
She is regarded as a pioneer of the 'chick-lit' genre;[1] her stories usually revolve around a strong female character who overcomes numerous obstacles to achieve lasting happiness.
Bibliography
Fiction
- Watermelon (1995) (Claire Walsh)
- Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1996)
- Rachel's Holiday (1998) (Rachel Walsh)
- Last Chance Saloon (1999)
- Sushi for Beginners (2000)
- No Dress Rehearsal (2000)
- Angels (2002) (Maggie Walsh)
- The Other Side of the Story (2004)
- Nothing Bad ever Happens in Tiffany's (2005)
- Anybody Out There? (2006) (Anna Walsh)
- This Charming Man (2008)
- The Brightest Star in the Sky (2009)
- Mammy Walsh's A-Z of the Walsh Family: An e-book Short (August 2012)
- The Mystery of Mercy Close (September 2012) (Helen Walsh)
- The Woman Who Stole My Life (November 2014)
Non-fiction
- Under the Duvet (2001)
- Further under the Duvet (2005)
- Cracks In My Foundation in Damage Control – Women on the Therapists, Beauticians, and Trainers Who Navigate Their Bodies edited by Emma Forrest (2007)
- Saved by Cake (2012)
Film and television adaptations
- Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married (1999/2000)
- Watermelon (16 April 2003)
- Au Secours J'ai Trente Ans (2004).
Awards
- 2009 – Irish Book Awards; winner of the Irish Popular Fiction Book for This Charming Man
- 2016 – Irish Book Awards; The Ireland AM Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year Making it up as I go Along
- 1 2 3 Bates, Daniel (6 January 2010). "Marian Keyes apologises to fans for crippling depression which has left her unable to sleep, read, write or talk". Daily Mail. London.
- ↑ Williams, Charlotte (23 September 2011). "Marian Keyes to write cookery for MJ spring list". TheBookseller.com. London. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ↑ Keyes, Marian (14 September 2012). "My midlife meltdown: MARIAN KEYES tells terrifying story detailing the reality of a breakdown". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ↑ "Marian Keyes says Marian Finucane has the 'empathy of a cardboard box'!". evoke.ie. 12 November 2014.
- Vallely, Paul (9 January 2010). "Marian Keyes: A darker side to chick-lit". The Independent. London. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- Flood, Alison (14 December 2012). "Marian Keyes: a life in books". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 December 2012.