Life
Author of Retreat (Headline 2001), a first novel about give girls who experience sexual abuse by a priest; Missing [q.d.]; and Revenge (Review 2003), 320pp.
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Commentary
Shirley Kelly, interview, in Books Ireland (Sept. 2001) ,pp.198-99: First novel Retreat, a story of give girls who experience sexual abuse by a priest; publ. by Headline; wrote for RTE Sunday Miscellany; dg. of John McCourt and Irene, creator of Argosy books, wholesaler, as commercial lending library in 1940s; ed. Miss Meredith’s; leaving cert. at 13; continued at Alexander Coll.; m. Edwin Higel, whom she met at TCD; lived in Tubingen; taught English; rescued from flooded basement in Tubingen flood, being pulled out by a window by frogmen; married and returned to Dublin, Christmas 1978, working for Argosy; Edwin worked for Methuen and other UK Publishers; mgr. dir. of New Island Books; children Steffen (1980) and Sophie (1986); d. of John McCourt, 1989; breakup of marriage, 1999; Open University; writing with Rv. George Ferguson in Dundrum; infl. by Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; ‘I wanted to write a funny book about a group of girls coming of age, and the way sin which they sustain and support each other. The abuse theme crept in as something that would both damagge them and bind them together.’ (BI, pp.199).
Sue Leonard, review of Revenge, in Books Ireland (Sept. 2003), the story of a Plumpet McHarg, girl who is drugged and savagely raped, and the effect on her family; strongly commended.
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