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National Gallery of Ireland

Maeve Binchy’s final book tops Amazon’s pre-order list

Binchy’s long-term agent Christine Green said it was a bittersweet day because “we want to celebrate the book but we want her to be here too”.

EVEN BEFORE MAEVE Binchy’s final book A Week in Winter hit the shelves it already topped Amazon’s list as the most pre-ordered book ever.

The Dubliner was working on its final draft with her editor Carole Baron and agent Christine Green when she died in July aged 72.

The publishers of the book Orion anticipate that it will be Maeve’s biggest book with Amazon yet as it has already become the most pre-ordered book ever. It has more Kindle pre-orders than copies of hardback but the publishers say that both figures are very high, especially when compared to her previous books.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie Binchy’s long-term agent Christine Green said it was a bittersweet day.

It feels bittersweet because we want to celebrate the book but we want her to be here too. We are all very proud. This book is vintage Maeve. It’s a wonderful story, full of warmth and humour with great characters and a great setting.

The novel is set in the fictional village of Stoneybridge in the west of Ireland. The characters of the book are guests who would otherwise never be put together but find themselves enjoying a winter break in each other’s company in the big, warm hotel with log-fires and elegant bedrooms.

Image: Orion Books

The book won’t have an official launch party as Green says “it’s too soon” since she passed away.

Her husband Gordon [Snell] won’t be doing anything like launches to mark the book officially because really it feels too soon.

Maeve’s health has been so low for the past few years anyway so we didn’t have many parties to mark her books but we will raise a glass in private in honour of her.

Binchy has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and had her books translated into 37 languages.

Her two most popular novels were adapted into films. Circle of Friends was a 1995 film starring Chris O’Donnell, Minnie Driver and Tara Road was made into a movie starring Andie McDowell and Olivia Williams.

When asked if her final book might make it to the big screen, Green said “who knows, it would be lovely to think it could be turned into a film someday.”

Read: President to launch 1913 Lockout tapestry project >

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16 Comments
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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:10 PM

    Her books are magical and I for one will be buying it no matter what time of the year it comes out!!!

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    Mute Trudus
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:56 PM

    I would always get her newest book at christmas, regardless of when it was published. It was just my thing really. Im just happy that there’s one last book to come from Maeve. Ill look forward to reading it :)

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    Mute Jerry Slattery
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    Nov 8th 2012, 4:56 PM

    Just in time for the Christmas market Commerce always wins out over sentiment.

    One of the nice things about Maeve, was unlike her near neighbors the Hewsons she gave most of her wealth away to charity with the provision that it was not publicized . I would imagine if Bono and gang put 50cent in a poor box they would want a full PR company at hand to witness the event for the world media !

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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:15 PM

    Good man Jerry.
    Maybe a secret publication date sometime in January when fewer people could buy it would have been more appropriately sentimental?

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    Mute Jerry Slattery
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:30 PM

    My point GAGSY is that it is very obvious this had had a rushed publication to cash in on her death no more no less and fair play to them at Orion I would have done the same thing.

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    Mute Lt Mr Worf
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:41 PM

    I see your point but think it is poorly made due to the popularity and warmth of Maeve.

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    Mute Gagsy 99
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:48 PM

    All new titles that are available are rushed out before Christmas whether the author is alive or dead.
    Its Christmas they’re cashing in on.

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    Mute Lt Mr Worf
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:37 PM

    Loved Circle of Friends; my favourite of her books. She was a lovely person.

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    Mute Margaret Martin
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:07 PM

    How much does the book cost

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    Mute Kitta Please
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:30 PM

    I don’t know Margaret why don’t you use the internets lack of punctuation at the end

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    Mute Deirdre McCarthy
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    Nov 9th 2012, 4:27 PM

    I will raise a glass to you too Maeve when I get my copy. I know I will cry my eyes out all the way through the book because that’s it! Maeve’s swansong will be glorious! Thanks Maeve again for all your wonderful comforting books over the years! What a wonderful title….

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    Mute Barbara Taylor
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    Nov 9th 2012, 5:14 PM

    Tara Road, just read for the 2nd time, oh I want her books to go on and on,going to get her new one.

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    Mute Mary Clare Harding Mullins
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    Nov 10th 2012, 1:44 AM

    Maeve Binchy was a storyteller and a writer from the heart. She had a rare gift that included the reader into her stories. My first encounter with Maeve and her wonderful works was with ‘Light A Penny Candle’. It brought back such fond memories of my childhood when the Penny Candle was the answer to all our prayers. Maeve told it as it was. I read every single one of her books since then. I had the honour of meeting her and had a great chat with her about growing up in Ireland in the ‘Rosary’ years. Maeve had a great sense of humour and a wonderful personality. I will read the latest Binchy with the same enthusiasm as always and cherish it as the last by the greatest Irish writer in recent years. I will miss the ones that will never be…..God Bless you Maeve. Let your Penny Candle shine bright in the sky each night.

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    Mute Sandi Spurgeon
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    Nov 9th 2012, 2:45 PM

    I LOVED The Scarlet Feather…All of her books are wonderful. R.I.P Great Lady…

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    Mute Donna Mc Laughlin
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    Nov 9th 2012, 8:01 PM

    I have all her books—I loved every one–read some of them twice–I am so going to miss reading her books.She was the best.Bless her.

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    Mute Laurie Gaul Crisler
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    Nov 9th 2012, 4:27 PM

    I loved Maeve Binchy’s stories, although I hated the movie they made of Circle of Friends–they changed the story too, too much. I recommended The Copper Beech to my father to read when Maeve died (he reads a ton–mostly historical and political books) and he very much enjoyed the story. The next one I recommended to him was The Glass Lake–it was the first one of hers I ever read–and he enjoyed that one also. She’s a master storyteller–appeals to all ages (Dad was 83 when he first read her)!

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