Tana French
Encyclopedia
Tana French is an Irish novelist and theatrical actress. Her debut novel In the Woods
(2007), a psychological mystery, won the Edgar
, Anthony
, Macavity, and Barry
awards for best first novel. She is a liaison of the Purple Heart Theatre Company and lives in Dublin.
. Her father was an economist who worked on resource management for the developing world, so the family lived in many different cultures. French attended Trinity College, Dublin
and trained in acting. She ultimately settled in Ireland and since 1990 has lived in Dublin, which she considers home. French is married and has a daughter with her husband. She has retained dual citizenship in the US and Ireland.
Her debut novel
In the Woods
(2007) received numerous awards and was a bestseller in hardcover and paperback. Her follow-up novel The Likeness
(2008), presenting a story about her lead character Cassie, has also been a bestseller in both versions.
In the Woods
In the Woods is a 2007 mystery novel by Tana French about a pair of Irish detectives and their investigation of the murder of a twelve year old girl...
(2007), a psychological mystery, won the Edgar
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, Anthony
Anthony Award
The Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....
, Macavity, and Barry
Barry Award (for crime novels)
The Barry Award is a crime literary prize awarded annually since 1997 by the editors of Deadly Pleasures, an American quarterly publication for crime fiction readers. From 2007-2009 the award was jointly presented with the publication Mystery News...
awards for best first novel. She is a liaison of the Purple Heart Theatre Company and lives in Dublin.
Personal life
Tana French was born in the United States to Elena Hvostoff-Lombardi and David French, but lived in numerous countries as a child, including Ireland, Italy, the US, and MalawiMalawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. Her father was an economist who worked on resource management for the developing world, so the family lived in many different cultures. French attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and trained in acting. She ultimately settled in Ireland and since 1990 has lived in Dublin, which she considers home. French is married and has a daughter with her husband. She has retained dual citizenship in the US and Ireland.
Career
French trained as a professional actor at Trinity, French works in theater, film, and voiceover.Her debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
In the Woods
In the Woods
In the Woods is a 2007 mystery novel by Tana French about a pair of Irish detectives and their investigation of the murder of a twelve year old girl...
(2007) received numerous awards and was a bestseller in hardcover and paperback. Her follow-up novel The Likeness
The Likeness
The Likeness is a 2008 mystery novel by Tana French. The story follows the efforts of Cassie Maddox, a character from French's 2007 work In the Woods, to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman who is her doppelgänger...
(2008), presenting a story about her lead character Cassie, has also been a bestseller in both versions.
Books
- In the WoodsIn the WoodsIn the Woods is a 2007 mystery novel by Tana French about a pair of Irish detectives and their investigation of the murder of a twelve year old girl...
(2007) - The LikenessThe LikenessThe Likeness is a 2008 mystery novel by Tana French. The story follows the efforts of Cassie Maddox, a character from French's 2007 work In the Woods, to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman who is her doppelgänger...
(2008) - Faithful PlaceFaithful PlaceFaithful Place is a 2010 crime novel by Tana French. The book is set in Dublin, featuring undercover detective Frank Mackey, who was a minor character in French's previous novel, The Likeness.-Style:...
(July 13, 2010) - Broken Harbour (March 29, 2012)
Awards
- 2008: Edgar Award for Best First Novel, for In the Woods
- 2008: Anthony AwardAnthony AwardThe Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....
, Best First Novel for In the Woods - 2008: Macavity Award, Best First Mystery for In the Woods
- 2008, Barry AwardBarry Award (for crime novels)The Barry Award is a crime literary prize awarded annually since 1997 by the editors of Deadly Pleasures, an American quarterly publication for crime fiction readers. From 2007-2009 the award was jointly presented with the publication Mystery News...
for Best First Novel - 2007, Finalist for Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller)
- 2012, International IMPAC Dublin Literary AwardInternational IMPAC Dublin Literary AwardThe International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
nomination for Faithful Place