Maggie Hemingway
Encyclopedia
Maggie Hemingway was a British novelist. She was born in Orford
, Suffolk and named Margaret Joan Hemingway; but when she was three years old her family moved to New Zealand, where she spent her childhood. Returning to England in her teens, she read French and English at Edinburgh University and graduated MA in 1967.
Shortly after leaving university she married Michael Dias, with whom she had two daughters. The marriage broke up in the late 1970s and she moved to London. There she worked in publishing, eventually becoming Rights Manager for J.M.Dent. She had been writing poetry and prose from her youth, and in 1986 published her first novel, The Bridge, which won the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize (presented for the best regional novel of the year). This story about an artist's conflict between his life and his art was made into a film
in 1992.
Her following three novels all received much critical acclaim. Victoria Glendenning wrote of her second novel, Stop House Blues (1988), that "it has a classic quality which will ensure its survival". Her third, The Postman's House (1991), was based on her own experiences of Czechoslovakia
before the Velvet Revolution
. Eyes, her final novel (1993), is also her most experimental, combining four stories of murder into a single span and reaching a chilling conclusion. Upon its release, critics commented particularly on her descriptive powers, with the Daily Telegraph insisting that "Landscape is her forte. You can feel her weather, smell the menace in her earth."
From 1983 until her death, Maggie Hemingway's partner was the composer David Matthews
, with whom she collaborated on three vocal works:
In her early 40s, Maggie Hemingway was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. She died in London on 9 May 1993. David Matthews composed his 'Piano Trio No. 2', op. 61 (1993–94) in her memory.
Orford, Suffolk
Orford is a small town in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.Like many Suffolk coastal towns it was of some importance as a port and fishing village in the Middle Ages. It still has a fine mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore.The main geographical feature of the...
, Suffolk and named Margaret Joan Hemingway; but when she was three years old her family moved to New Zealand, where she spent her childhood. Returning to England in her teens, she read French and English at Edinburgh University and graduated MA in 1967.
Shortly after leaving university she married Michael Dias, with whom she had two daughters. The marriage broke up in the late 1970s and she moved to London. There she worked in publishing, eventually becoming Rights Manager for J.M.Dent. She had been writing poetry and prose from her youth, and in 1986 published her first novel, The Bridge, which won the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize (presented for the best regional novel of the year). This story about an artist's conflict between his life and his art was made into a film
The Bridge (1992 film)
The Bridge is a 1992 independent film based on the novel by Maggie Hemingway. Directed by Sydney Macartney, it stars Saskia Reeves, David O'Hara, Joss Ackland, Rosemary Harris, Anthony Higgins, and Geraldine James...
in 1992.
Her following three novels all received much critical acclaim. Victoria Glendenning wrote of her second novel, Stop House Blues (1988), that "it has a classic quality which will ensure its survival". Her third, The Postman's House (1991), was based on her own experiences of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
before the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
. Eyes, her final novel (1993), is also her most experimental, combining four stories of murder into a single span and reaching a chilling conclusion. Upon its release, critics commented particularly on her descriptive powers, with the Daily Telegraph insisting that "Landscape is her forte. You can feel her weather, smell the menace in her earth."
From 1983 until her death, Maggie Hemingway's partner was the composer David Matthews
David Matthews (composer)
David Matthews is an English composer of mainly orchestral, chamber, vocal and piano works.- Life :He was born in London into a family that was 'not especially' musical; the desire to compose did not manifest itself until he was sixteen, and for a time he and his younger brother Colin Matthews,...
, with whom she collaborated on three vocal works:
- 'Cantiga', op.45, for soprano and orchestra (1988);
- 'From Coastal Stations', op.53, for medium voice and piano (1990–91);
- 'Pride', for soprano, alto, tenor and string quartet (1993).
In her early 40s, Maggie Hemingway was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. She died in London on 9 May 1993. David Matthews composed his 'Piano Trio No. 2', op. 61 (1993–94) in her memory.
Books
- 'The Bridge' (1986): London (Jonathan Cape), ISBN 0-224-02832-4; New York (Atheneum), ISBN 0-689-11849-X; 2 paperback editions: 1987, London (Pavanne), ISBN 0-330-29715-5, and 1991, London (Sceptre), ISBN 0-340-56533-0.
- 'Stop House Blues' (1988): London (Hamish Hamilton), ISBN 0-241-12266-X; paperback edition: 1989, London (Penguin), ISBN 0-14-010836-X.
- 'The Postmen's House' (1990), London (Sinclair-Stevenson), ISBN 1-85619-009-9; paperback edition: 1992, London (Sceptre), ISBN 0-340-57118-7.
- 'Eyes' (1993), London (Sinclair-Stevenson), ISBN 1-85619-327-6; paperback edition: 1994, London (Sceptre), ISBN 0-340-59913-8.