| Madeleine Wickham | |
|---|---|
| Born | Madeleine Sophie Townley 12 December 1969 London, England |
| Pen name | Sophie Kinsella |
| Occupation | novelist |
| Nationality | English |
| Period | 1995 - Present |
| Genres | Chick lit |
| Notable work(s) | The Shopaholic Series |
|
www.sophiekinsella.co.uk |
|
Madeleine Wickham (born Madeleine Townley on 12 December 1969) is an English author of chick lit who is most known for her work under the pen name Sophie Kinsella.
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Madeline Wickham was born in London. She did her schooling in Putney High School. She studied music at New College, Oxford, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).[1] Wickham worked as a financial journalist (including for Pensions World) before turning to fiction.
While working as a financial journalist, at the age of 24, she wrote her first novel. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller. She went on to publish six more novels as Madeleine Wickham: A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three and Sleeping Arrangements.
Her first novel under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella (taken from her middle name and her mother's maiden name)[2] was submitted to her existing publishers anonymously and was enthusiastically received. She revealed her real identity for the first time when Can You Keep a Secret? was published in December 2005.[3]
Sophie Kinsella is best known for writing the Shopaholic novels series of chick lit novels, which focus on the misadventures of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who cannot manage her own finances. The series focuses on her obsession with shopping and its resulting complications for her life. The first two Shopaholic books were adapted into a film and released in February 2009, with Isla Fisher playing an American Becky and Hugh Dancy as Luke Brandon.
Twenties Girl, which was released in the UK in July 2009 was also published under the name Sophie Kinsella. The latest addition to the Shopaholic series, Mini Shopaholic, came out in September 2010.
Wickham lives in London with her husband, Henry Wickham (whom she met in Oxford), the headmaster of a boys' preparatory school. They have been married for 17 years and have four sons and a daughter, Freddy (b.1997), Hugo (b.1999), Oscar (b.2006), Rex William (b. April 15th, 2010) and Sybella (b. December 22nd, 2011).[4] She is the sister of fellow writer, Gemma Townley.
The Shopaholic Series
| n° | Book Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also titled Confessions of a Shopaholic) | 2000 |
| 2 | Shopaholic Abroad (also titled Shopaholic Takes Manhattan) | 2001 |
| 3 | Shopaholic Ties The Knot | 2001 |
| 4 | Shopaholic & Sister | 2004 |
| 5 | Shopaholic & Baby | 2007 |
| 6 | Mini Shopaholic | 2010 |