Sophie Kinsella, 'Shopaholic' author, dies aged 55 after cancer battle
What's the story
Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author of the Confessions of a Shopaholic series, has died at the age of 55. Her family confirmed the news on Wednesday, reported The Guardian. Kinsella, whose real name was Madeleine Wickham, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor, in late 2022. She underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy to fight the disease.
Author's career
Kinsella's literary journey and impact
Kinsella was born in London in 1969 and studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at New College, Oxford. She started her career as a financial journalist but soon switched to writing fiction. Her first novel, The Tennis Party, was published when she was just 24 years old under her real name, Madeleine Wickham. The book was the first of seven novels she wrote under that name between 1995 and 2001.
Series success
Kinsella's breakthrough with 'Shopaholic' series
Kinsella's breakthrough came in 2000 with The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic, published under the pen name Sophie Kinsella. The book, which was later reissued as "Confessions of a Shopaholic" in some countries, introduced readers to Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist with a shopping addiction. The series became hugely popular and was adapted into a film in 2009 starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.
Author's legacy
Kinsella's literary contributions and legacy
Apart from the Shopaholic series, Kinsella also wrote standalone novels such as Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, and Remember Me? Her last standalone novel was published in 2023, titled The Burnout. She also wrote children's books and young adult fiction. Kinsella's 30 books for adults, teenagers, and children sold over 45 million copies worldwide, making her one of the most successful authors of her generation.
Family details
Kinsella's personal life and family
Kinsella is survived by her husband, Henry Wickham, and their five children. She made her cancer diagnosis public in April 2024. Owing to the romcom-esque situations of her protagonists, The Guardian reported that her work was often labeled as "chick lit." Yet Kinsella considered the term to mean "third-person contemporary funny" novels.