Maeve Binchy was born in Dublin, and went to school at the Holy Child Convent in Killiney. She took a history degree at UCD and taught in various girls' schools, writing travel articles in the long summer holidays. In 1969 she joined the Irish Times and for many years she was based in London writing humorous columns from all over the world. She is the author of five collections of short stories as well as twelve novels including Circle of Friends, The Copper Beech, Tara Road, Evening Class and The Glass Lake. Maeve Binchy is married to the writer Gordon Snell and they live in Dalkey, Dublin.
Maeve Binchy has a gimlet eye for the seething cauldron of emotions which lies beneath the surface of everyday life Irish Independent An adept storyteller with a sharp eye for social nuances and a pleasing affection for her characters Sunday Times The secrets hidden behind lace curtains, a young girl's first kiss, children's summer games, unexpected pregnancies, sudden deaths. She makes us feel as if we also know the place and the people... One of those good old-fashioned stories that are as comfortable and comforting as home itself The Philadelphia Inquirer