Maeve Binchy, Best-selling Author Has Died, Aged 72

The Irish journalist and novelist Maeve Binchy has died, aged 72. Binchy passed away yesterday (July 30, 2012), following a brief illness. The Guardian describes Binchy as "a journalist, whose head was full of stories" and added that she was "warm and witty and wonderful company." Her career as a writer began in the field of journalism but she was perhaps best known as a best-selling author, with 16 novels, four collections of short stories, a play and a novella to her name.

Binchy recognised that her appeal as a writer lay primarily as the writer of the kinds of books that readers would happily take on a beach holiday with them and was fully aware that many of her paperbacks were purchased at airports. Her appeal, however, was not limited to those in search of a light-hearted holiday read. Her novels have sold over 40 million copies worldwide and three of them - Circle of Friends, Tara Road and How About You - were made into TV films.

Maeve Binchy was born in Dalkey, south of Dublin. She began her working life as a teacher but disliked the profession. She later travelled in Isreal and the USA. Her letters home entertained her family so much that they sent them on to a newspaper. And so began a career in journalism, with the Irish Times, where she went on to become the women's editor. In a recent interview with Irish Times, she said that she had no regrets, regarding her life. "Everything went well... I've been very lucky and I have a happy old age with good family and friends still around."