It's a rare literary biography that leaves you less inclined to read the subject's works, but this one pulled it off. Trinca is hampered by her subject, Madeleine St John, who comes across as a paranoid, prickly, easily offended person. The writing is workmanlike and occasionally clunky, and it doesn't feel like you get a lot of insight into St John's work from this summary of her life. ( )

Whether one has read any of Madeleine St John's novels will doubtless influence one's reading of this biography of her troubled life. I have yet to have the pleasure but all four novels are in circulation online and elsewhere. Now, of course, my reading of the novels will be influenced by the biography. Can't have it both ways.
This biography is marvellously written and thoroughly researched. First class work all round. The story itself has sufficient episodes and drama to sustain interest and my reactions to Madeleine herself oscillated somewhere between admiration and frustration. This is a sad story indeed, lightened only by her late minor success as an author. Well, perhaps one should not say, minor. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and losing to "The God of Small Things." I'd like that in my CV!
I had no knowledge of Madeleine before reading this. Indeed, at first I thought I was about to read a hagiography of a Saint. And neither the book nor the person are that!. I do recall her father's brief stint as a refreshing rebel within the Liberal Party and this biography has certainly shaded my understanding of the kind of man he was. By the way, the surname is pronounced "sin-jen" although this is not mention in the book. ( )

Intriguing story of a very complex character.. Having read The Essence of the Thing, I was really interested to read this author's life story.
What a strange mixed-up character she was, whether caused by nature or nurture who knows?. It explains how she was able to create such characters in her novels. Some people say that The Essence of the Thing was autobiographical, but I thought the male character in the book, Jonathon was more like her in his dreadful fear of intimacy and rejection . A sad story but well worth reading. ( )

Traditional but well researched, even handed biography of the writer Madeleine St John who was the first Australian woman to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize. For my full review, please see Whispering Gums at:http://whisperinggums.com/2013/04/07/helen-trinca-madeleine-a-life-of-madeleine-st-john-review/ ( )