Maeve Binchy is one of the world's best loved story tellers. This collection from Australia and around the world gives us stories that are sad and happy, thoughtful and humourous, but always abounding with the author's trade mark generosity of spirit. Families, friends, lovers and the lonely, all are drawn with affection and wisdom. * Elsa makes a Christmas wish at the Statue of Liberty which comes true in a most unexpected way. * Amy opts for the simple life when Dan bites off more than he can chew. * Frankie uses an unexpected trip with Robert to find out what she really wants from their relationship. * Victor, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, accompanies a friend to Australia with no thought of love on his mind. * Nick and Janet meet at the Sydney Fish Markets...everything seems perfect, what could go wrong? * Victoria imagines what it would mean to her widowed father to join her in his beloved Paris for a weekend. * Bran enters a competition to broaden his horizons.
Author
Maeve Binchy was born on 28 May 1940 in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, the eldest child of four. Her parents were very positive and provided her with a happy childhood. Although she described herself as an overweight child, her parents' attitude gave her the confidence to accept herself for who she was. She studied at University College Dublin and was a teacher for a while. She also loved traveling, and this was how she found her niche as a writer. She liked going to different places, such as a Kibbutz in Israel, and she worked in a camp in the United States. While she was away, she sent letters home to her parents. They were so impressed with these chatty letters from all over the world that they decided to send them to a newspaper. After these letters were published, Maeve left teaching and became a journalist. Maeve married Gordon Snell, writer and editor of children's books. When they were struggling financially, Light a Penny Candle was published, which made her an overnight success. Many of her books, such as Echoes, are set in the past in Ireland. Some of her later novels, such as Evening Class, take place in more modern times. Her books often deal with people who are young, fall in love, have families, and deal with relationship or family problems. The main characters are people whom readers can empathise with. She passed away on 30 July 2012, at the age of 72. Her cousin Dan Binchy is also a published writer, as is her nephew Chris Binchy.
