Maeve Binchy Books

EVENING CLASS The Italian evening class at Mountainview School is like hundreds of others all over Dublin. But this class has its own special quality - as the focus for the varied hopes and dreams of teacher and pupils alike. By the time the pupils set off on a grand trip to Italy, a surprising number of them have found more than the Italian language in the evening class. THE COPPER BEECH Shancarrig School stands in the shade of a glorious old copper beech whose colours tell the passing of the seasons and the years: a tree that has watched over many young lives. Here is a delightful story of the lives, loves and dreams of the people who pass below its branches. TARA ROAD Ria and Marilyn have never met - they live thousands of miles apart, one in Tara Road, Dublin, the other in New England. When each needs a place to escape to, a house exchange seems an ideal solution. Along with the borrowed houses come gossip and speculation, and friendship, as Ria and Marilyn swap lives for the summer...

Dublin 4: A society hostess invites her husband’s mistress to dinner. A country girl savours the delights of city life. A student faces the dilemma of unmarried pregnancy. A drink-ridden photographer tries to relaunch a shattered career. Dublin 4 has all of Maeve Binchy’s intimate grasp of human feelings, her marvellous ear for dialogue and her subtle sense of life’s confusion. The stories bubble with fun and wit — yet sometimes leave a taste of sadness. Victoria Line Central Every day, millions of people travel on London’s Underground, yet everyday life is not nearly as mundane as we think. At Notting Hill, the secretary, harbouring her secrets travels to work; at Highbury and Islington, Adam has a sudden change of heart; at Holborn, a disastrous reunion is about to take place. With her characteristic mix of humour and biting realism, Maeve Binchy enters the lives of ordinary people. The Lilac Bus is a collection of interrelated short stories by the writer Maeve Binchy, first published in 1984. The stories were later republished, along with the earlier collection Dublin 4, in The Lilac Stories.

Den richtigen Kick im Leben vermissen Annie, Judy und die anderen und planen Seitensprünge, sexuelle Experimente und eine kleine Hanfplantage, um dem bösen Alltag zu entfliehen. Welchen Turbulenzen sie dabei begegnen, beschreibt Maeve Binchy in sechs bewegenden Geschichten.

THE COPPER BEECH By the school house at Shancarrig stands a copper beech, its bark scarred with the names and dreams of the pupils who have grown up under its branches. This tree is the gateway to Maeve Binchy's marvelous portrait of a small Irish town whose untroubled surface conceals the passions, rivalries, friendships, ambitions and jealousies beneath. EVENING CLASS Among the many evening classes starting all over Dublin is an 'Introduction to Italian'. On the surface it could be just one of hundreds in which some students will succeed and some will fall along the way. But the Italian class at Mountainview School has its own special quality, and the hopes and dreams of many people are tied up in the twice weekly lessons.

'Warm, witty and with a deep understanding of what makes us tick, it's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters' OK Magazine The Italian evening class at Mountainview School is like hundreds of others starting up all over the city. But this class has its own special quality - as the focus for the varied hopes and dreams of teacher and pupils alike. Aidan Dunne needs his new evening class project to succeed almost as much as his pupils do. They too are looking for something more: Bill to find a way to keep spendthrift Lizzie at his side, and Fran to make sure that young Kathy finds her way out from behind the kitchen sink. The key to their success lies with the Signora. Her passion has drawn her from Ireland to Italy and back home again with a burning desire to share her love of all things Italian - and a secret hidden in her heart...

Original short fiction by a beloved bestselling author on her best topic -- relationships. This charming novella from a masterful writer expresses the power of family secrets. Nan Ryan lives by herself at 14 Chestnut Road. When builders arrive to fix a deserted house next door, everyone expects the worst. But when the handsome workman looks to Nan to help unravel the mystery of the previous residents' disappearance, a strange relationship develops. With family dynamics and crooked developers in the wings, things are about to get very messy...

'Her storytelling ability is second to none' Mail on Sunday An old copper beech overlooks a school, and witnesses all the hopes and loves, dreams and ambitions of the children who grew up there... Shancarrig School stands in the shade of a glorious old copper beech whose colours tell the passing of the seasons and the years: a tree that has watched over many lives. The school mistress keeps a careful eye on the children, each of whom have their own hopes, dreams and ambitions for the future. As the children grow up, and become parents themselves, their stories are entwined in this gloriously nostalgic novel from the No.1 bestselling author.

The story of the friendship between Benny and Eve through their childhood in Knockglen and their days as students in Dublin.

'I literally could not put the book down' Sunday Express Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have decided to create the best catering company in Dublin. They have plenty of talent, the perfect premises, and even a few contacts. But not everyone is as pleased by the idea of 'Scarlet Feather' as they are. Tom's parents are disappointed that he has turned his back on the family business. Cathy's mother-in-law believes Cathy should be at home. And Tom's relationship with his beautiful, ambitious girlfriend is slowly disintegrating. As Cathy and Tom strive to maintain their emotional ties amidst catering triumphs and disasters, they find both support and opposition where they least expect it. 'Drama, humour, warmth and great characters - it's what we expect from Maeve Binchy, one of the world's best-loved writers' Woman's Weekly

Every table at Quentins restaurant in Dublin has a thousand stories to tell. The staff and customers all have tales of their own, and the restaurant itself has had times when it looked set for success, and others when it seemed doomed to failure. There is Monica, the ever-cheerful Australian waitress; the enigmatic Signora; the Patrick and Brenda Brennan, who have made Quentins such a legend. But even their life is not all it seems. Now Ella Brady wants to make a documentary about the renowned restaurant but, as she uncovers more of what has gone on, she questions the wisdom of bringing it to the screen. And when she is forced to confront a devastating dilemma in her own life, Ella wonders if some stories should not be told...

An account of four fateful years in the life of a small Irish town, and in particular of the family who run the local pub. The novel features interlocking stories of loves lost and won, hopes raised and dashed, ambitions nurtured and secrets betrayed.

A story of the lives and loves of two women, bound together in friendship.___

With each new book, Maeve Binchy captivates an expanding audience with her wit, warmth, and storytelling magic. In this novel, she explores the lives of two women—one from Ireland and one from America—who switch homes for the summer, leading to profound personal revelations. Ria lives on Tara Road in Dublin with her charming husband, Danny, and their children, believing her marriage is secure until Danny leaves her for a younger woman. A chance phone call connects her with Marilyn, a grieving mother from New England who is struggling with the loss of her son and the separation from her husband. As they exchange homes, both women confront their respective challenges and secrets. Ria, initially resentful of Marilyn's apparent ease in her life, finds herself missing her husband and the familiar comforts of home. Meanwhile, Marilyn, who has always been private, unexpectedly bonds with Ria's children and a local restaurateur, Colm. By summer's end, the women meet face-to-face, transformed by their experiences and the friendship they have forged. This moving story showcases Binchy's masterful ability to depict the complexities of human relationships, making it a beautiful and unforgettable read.

It was the quiet ones you had to watch. That's where the real passion was lurking. They came together at Mountainview College, a down-at-the-heels secondary school on the seamy side of Dublin, to take a course in Italian. It was Latin teacher Aidan Dunne's last chance to revive a failing marriage and a dead-end career. But Aidan's dream was headed for disaster until the mysterious Signora appeared, transforming a shared passion for Italy into a life-altering adventure for them all . . . bank clerk Bill and his dizzy fiance Lizzie: a couple headed for trouble . . . Kathy, a hardworking innocent propelled into adulthood in a shocking moment of truth . . . Connie, the gorgeous rich lady with a scandal ready to explode . . . glowering Lou, who joined the class as a cover for crime. And Signora, whose passionate past remained a secret as she changed all their lives forever. . . . From the New York Times bestselling author of This Year It Will Be Different, The Glass Lake, and Circle of Friends, comes a novel filled with Maeve Binchy's signature warmth, wit, and sheer storytelling genius—a spellbinding tale of men and women whose quiet lives hide the most unexpected things. . . .

Seven of Irelands most accomplished female writers have crafted between them this delightfully entertaining novel. Featuring authors Maeve Binchy and Deirdre Purcell.

After Clare O'Brien, a poor shopkeeper's daughter, and David Power, a son of a wealthy family of Castlebay, marry, they find the confinements of life in the small Irish seaside town of Castlebay once again closing in.

'As someone who fell off a chair not long ago trying to hear what they were saying at the next table in a restaurant, I suppose I am obsessively interested in what some might consider the trivia of other people's lives.' Maeve Binchy is well-known for her bestselling novels, the most recent of which was A WEEK IN WINTER. But for many years Maeve was a journalist, writing for the IRISH TIMES. From 'The Student Train' to 'Plane Bores' and 'Bathroom Joggers' to 'When Beckett met Binchy', these articles have all the warmth, wit and humanity of her fiction. Arranged in decades, from the 1960s to the 2000s, and including Maeve's first and last ever piece of writing for the IRISH TIMES, the columns also give a fascinating insight into the author herself. With an introduction written by her husband, the writer Gordon Snell, this collection of timeless writing reminds us of why the leading Irish writer was so universally loved. Read by Kate Binchy

Agreeing to care for the baby that a terminally ill former girlfriend claims is his, recovering alcoholic Noel turns to a loving network of family and friends for help until an social worker attempts to place the baby in a foster home. By the author of Heart and Soul. 350,000 first printing.

With the warmth, humor, and compassion we have come to expect, Maeve Binchy tells a story of doctors and staff, patients, family, and friends at a heart clinic in a community caught between the old Ireland and the new. Dr. Clara Casey agrees to take on the seemingly thankless task of establishing a clinic with little funding--for a year. With her own plate full--two troublesome grown daughters and a needy ex-husband--she is still able to gather a wonderfully diverse and dedicated staff. And before long she has done the impossible, made the clinic a success and a aprt of the community. Now Clara must decide whether or not to stay.

A fantastic Maeve Binchy - written specially for the World Book Day Quick Reads promotion. Dee loves her children very much, but now they are all grown up, shouldn't they leave home? Rosie moved out when she got married, but it didn't work out, so now she is back with her parents. Helen is a teacher, and doesn't earn enough for a place of her own. Anthony writes songs, and is just waiting for the day when someone will pay him for them. Until then, all three are happy at home. It doesn't cost them anything, and surely their parents like having a full house? When a crisis occurs, Dee decides things have to change for the whole family...whether they like it or not.

Kit McMahon lives in the small Irish town of Lough Glass, where everyone knows everyone; children who walk to school together grow up and become sweethearts and marry, people gossip and grumble and dream their lives away. For it is a place where change comes slowly. Until one day, beautiful, mysterious Helen McMahon disappears, presumed drowned in the lake, and then the gossip runs wild. The consequences for Helen's husband, her son, but above all for her daughter, Kit, are unimaginable and will leave not one of their lives unchanged.

Maeve Binchy, "the grand story teller, "* returns with a cast of characters you will never forget when they all spend a winter week together on holiday at Stone House, a restful inn by the sea ... Stoneyville is a small town on the coast of Ireland where all the families know each other. When Chicky decides to take an old decaying mansion, Stone House, and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea, the town thinks she is crazy. She is helped by Rigger (a bad boy turned good who is handy around the place) and her niece Orla (a whiz at business). Finally the first week of paying guests arrive: John, the American movie star thinks he has arrived incognito; Winnie and Lillian, forced into taking a holiday together; Nuala and Henry, husband and wife, both doctors who have been shaken by seeing too much death; Anders, the Swedish boy, hates his father's business, but has a real talent for music; Miss Nell Howe, a retired school teacher, who criticizes everything and leaves a day early, much to everyone's relief; the Walls who have entered in 200 contests (and won everything from a microwave oven to velvet curtains, including the week at Stone House); and Freda, the psychic who is afraid of her own visions. You will laugh and cry as you spend the week with this odd group who share their secrets and might even have some of their dreams come true."--Provided by publisher.

'The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club' gives an unique insight into how a No.1 bestselling author writes. Inspired by a course run by the National College of Ireland, it comprises 20 letters from Maeve, offering advice, tips and her own wonderfully witty take on the life of a writer, in addition to contributions from top writers, publishers and editors.Whether you want to write a saga or a thriller, comedy or journalism, or write for the radio or stage, this also gives advice on the best way to get started, and what editors, publishers and agents are looking for.'The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club' is a fascinating and informative guide to inspire all budding writers as well as entertaining Maeve Binchy fans the world over.Includes expert advice from Marian Keyes, Alison Walsh, Norah Casey, Paula Campbell, Ivy Bannister, Seamus Hosey, Gerald Dave, Jim Culleton, Ferdia McAnna and Julie Parsons.Includes a specially written brand new story by Maeve Binchy:'The Writing Class'

In a Greek taverna, high over the small village of Aghia Anna, four people meet for the first time: Fiona, an Irish nurse; Thomas, a Californian academic; Elsa, a German television presenter; and David, a shy English boy. Along with Andreas, the old man who runs the taverna, they become close to each other after witnessing a tragedy when a pleasure steamer catches fire in the harbour. NIGHTS OF RAIN AND STARS is the story of one summer when Fiona, Thomas, Elsa and David all have to face the particular life crisis which first made them leave their homes and end up in Greece. With the help of Vonni, a middle-aged Irishwoman who lives in the village and is now a near native, they each find a solution - although not necessarily the one they anticipated...

An irresistible collection of short stories, some hilarious, some heartbreaking, from the most popular contemporary Irish women writers. Poignant, hilarious, heartwarming in turn, this anthology includes never-before-published short stories by some of the best-known and best-loved Irish writers, including Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly, Julie Parsons, Deirdre Purcell, Joan O'Neill, Morag Prunty, Colette Caddle and many more. It also includes stories by up-and-coming Irish stars like Annie Sparrow, Catherine Barry and Marisa Mackle. While some stories will have you laughing out loud, others will have you reaching for your hanky: but they all display their own peculiar brand of Irish charm. And it's all in a very good cause: 1 pound from every copy sold will go to Barnardo's children's charity, and the Irish charity, The Society of St Vincent de Paul, which aims to alleviate poverty throughout the world.

Whether it's the sudden snapping of bonds between lovers or shopping on Oxford Street, Maeve Binchy finds the unexpected truth in experiences so real that every woman will recognize them. Filled with her delicious humor and warmth, the twenty-two stories in London Transports will delight and captivate as they take us to a place that is far away—and yet so familiar...Where having an affair with a married man brings one woman to a turning point...Where another finds that looking for an apartment to share can be a risky business...Where nosing into a secretary's life can have shocking results...Where a dress designer just had a god-awful day...And where Maeve Binchy captures the beat of every woman's heart.

From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve Binchy's work has included both nostalgic pieces and sharp, often witty, writing which is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all her fiction are the people and their relationships with each other. This volume offers a glorious collection of the very best of her stories, full of the warmth, charm and humour that has always been an essential part of her writing

The Doyles will have been married for 25 years in October, so naturally there must be a celebration. But do they really want one? Past secrets are unveiled in this collection of linked short stories, culminating in the silver wedding party itself.

The Journey... Every Friday night a lilac-colored minibus leaves Dublin for the Irish country town of Rathdoon with seven weekend commuters on board. All of them, from the joking bank porter to the rich doctor's daughter, have their reasons for making the journey. The Destination...Rathdoon is the kind of Irish village where family histories are shared and scandals don't stay secret for long. And this weekend, when the bus pulls in, the riders find the unexpected waiting for them...as each of their private lives unfolds to reveal a sharp betrayal of the heart, a young man's crime, and a chance for new dreams among the eight intriguing men and women on... "From the Trade Paperback edition."

Shancarrig School stands in the shade of a glorious old copper beech whose colours tell the passing of the seasons and the years: a tree that has watched over many young lives ... Under Junior Assistant Mistress Maddy Ross's careful gaze the children play, but out of school Maddy's gaze lingers where it shouldn't. Maura Brennan, a bundle of fun from the rough end of town, plays with her pals: leap year baby Eddie Barton, the apple of his mother's eye, and Nessa Ryan, who little realises as she carves his name at the roots of the copper beech on the very last day of school, that she'll get a lot more from one of her schoolmates than her first shy kiss.

This collection is a companion to the long-established and highly successful Modern Short Stories One and its essential aims are the same: to offer stories of high literary quality which, though written for adults, can be enjoyed and appreciated by adolescents. The fifteen stories included are by distinguished writers from Africa, America, Australia, India, Ireland, Italy and Great Britain; and within their artistic context several of them deal with the special personal and social concerns of society today.The collection includes stories by the likes of Dorothy Parker, Maeve Binchy, Garrison Keillor, Peter Carey, Flannery O'Connor and Nadine Gordimer.

A New York Times Bestseller "Love, longing, and rich scenes of daily life.... What could be sweeter than a trip to an Irish village packed with robust native characters." —The Christian Science Monitor When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann’s Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann’s for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it’s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed. Father Flynn listens to all those caught up in the conflict, as the men and women of Whitethorn Woods must decide between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future.

Just round the corner from St Jarlath's Crescent (featured in MINDING FRANKIE) is Chestnut Street. Here, the lives of the residents are revealed in Maeve Binchy's wonderfully compelling tales: Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner, who must do more than he bargained for to protect his son. Nessa Byrne, whose aunt comes to visit from America for six weeks every summer and turns the house - and Nessa's world - upside down. Lilian, the generous girl with a big heart, and the fiance not everyone approves of. And Melly, whose gossip about the neighbours leads to trouble in the form of the fortune teller, 'Madame Magic'...No one rivals Maeve Binchy for stories of warmth, kindness, love, loss - and life not always turning out as expected.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake, and Evening Class comes a stunning collection of fifteen Christmas stories filled with Maeve Binchy's trademark wit, charm, and sheer storytelling genius. In "A Typical Irish Christmas," a grieving widower heads for a holiday in Ireland and finds an unexpected destination not just for himself, but for a father and daughter in crisis. . . . In "Pulling Together," a teacher not yet out of her twenties sees her affair with a married man at a turning point as Christmas Eve approaches. . . . And in the title story, "This Year It Will Be Different," a woman with a complacent husband and grown children enters a season that will forever alter her life, and theirs. . .These stories, and a dozen more, powerfully evoke many lives--from step-families grappling with exes to children caught in grown-up tugs-of-war--during the one holiday when feelings cannot be easily hidden. The time of year may be magical, imbued with meaning. But the situations are timeless. And Maeve Binchy makes us care about them all.

A collection of stories set in the heart of Dublin's fashionable Southside.

Oxford Bookworms offer students at all levels the opportunity to extend their reading and appreciation of English. There are six stages, taking students from elementary to advanced level. At the lower stages, many of the texts have been specially written for the series, to provide elementary and lower-intermediate students with an introduction to real reading in English. At the higher stages, most of the books have been adapted from works originally published for native speakers.

A collection of short stories told by wives, husbands, sons, daughters, lovers and strangers. There are star-crossed travellers who take each other's bags by mistake, only to learn that when you unlock a stranger's suitcase you enter a stranger's life; the house-sitter who moves into her client's life as well as her home; a holiday for four in Greece which has surprising consequences; and the chance encounter at an airport which brings together an unlikely group of people. 583 583.

A dog's purpose: The story of a dog's many lives and a canine commentary on human relationships and the bonds between humans and dogs.

Maeve Binchys liebenswerte Alltagshelden begeben sich alle hoffnungsfroh auf die Reise: Lena will aus ihrer Affäre eine Beziehung machen, Meg sehnt sich nach Aussöhnung mit ihrem Sohn, Miss Vogel will endlich mal Urlaub. und einen Mann. Sechs ergreifende Geschichten!

This collection looks at the years of innocence, the pains and pleasures of schooldays and the struggles of adolescence in stories by such writers as Seamus Heaney, Roddy Doyle, Flann O'Brien, William Trevor, Bryan MacMahon, Samuel Beckett, Neil Jordan, Sean O'Faolain, Edna O'Brien, Brian Friel, Maeve Binchy, Brendan Behan and many more.

21 warmherzige Erzählungen aus dem Nachlass der beliebten irischen Bestseller-Autorin. Mit ihren berührenden und gefühlvollen Kurzgeschichten lässt Maeve Binchy die Leserinnen am Leben und Alltag verschiedener Frauen in Irland teilhaben. Sie zeigt ihre unterschiedlichen Charaktere, ihre Wünsche, Ängste und Hoffnungen. Beziehungen gehen in die Brüche oder werden auf die Probe gestellt, neue Lieben und Freundschaften entstehen. Die Frauen kämpfen für ihre Träume und müssen sich ihren Ängsten stellen, um glücklich zu werden. Es sind Liebesgeschichten, Beziehungsgeschichten, Kurzgeschichten aus Irland – über Liebe, Freundschaft und etwas, das wohl jeder von uns kennt: Sehnsucht. Das ist zum Beispiel Moggie, die erst Jahre nach ihrem Collegeabschluss den Mut findet, aus dem Schatten ihrer Konkurrentin von damals herauszutreten. Sara braucht einen Wegweiser im Leben und findet unerwartete Hilfe bei ihrer kreativen Tante Miriam – bis diese einen ihrer eigenen Ratschläge etwas zu gut befolgt. Rory verliebt sich in Fiona, doch die scheint unerreichbar – schließlich ist sie Radiosprecherin und er nur ein aufmerksamer Zuhörer. Und eine alleinerziehende Mutter stellt fest, dass die neue, ungeliebte Freundin ihrer Tochter unter der aufmüpfigen Schale ein sehnsuchtsvolles Herz versteckt.

Ona - pełna kompleksów na punkcie swego wyglądu dziewczyna z małego miasteczka pod Dublinem; on - najprzystojniejszy z dublińskich studentów. Dookoła nich zaś - krąg przyjaciół, prawdziwych i nieprawdziwych; drobne intrygi i wielkie dramaty, zabawne przygody i budzące niepokój tajemnice. Czy miłość Benny i Jacka przetrwa trudne próby? Powieść Maeve Binchy urzeka ciepłem i niepowtarzalnym klimatem, wyciska łzy i pobudza do śmiechu, od pierwszej do ostatniej chwili, jak przystało na bestseller, trzyma w napięciu - podobnie jak film zrealizowany na jej podstawie.

Verhalen van Ierse schrijfsters.

Als geen ander weet Maeve Binchy de gewone mensen om haar heen te portretteren. In de voor haar kenmerkende warme stijl schrijft zij over het dagelijkse leven in Ierland. Met haar scherpe oog voor de emoties die onder het oppervlak van alledaagse gebeurtenissen broeien en met haar ingetogen gevoel voor humor geeft zij een haarfijn beeld van menselijke gevoelens en relaties. Dit boek bevat al haar verhalen, die eerder in de afzonderlijke bundels 'Verhalen uit Dublin', 'Dit jaar zal alles anders zijn' en 'De terugreis' zijn verschenen. Een unieke bundeling van korte verhalen over de mensen in Dublin, het reizen door Ierland of een typisch Ierse kust - kortom alle situaties die Maeve Binchy zo hartverwarmend kan beschrijven.

Was geschieht, wenn zwei aufgeweckte Irinnen Urlaub in Amerika machen und sich den Mietwagen mit zwei attraktiven, aber maulfaulen Typen teilen müssen? Welche Turbulenzen bringt es mit sich, wenn nach Jahren in Sizilien eine alte Freundin nach Irland heimkehrt? Auf wie viele ungewöhnliche Arten kann man einen unerwünschten Ehering loswerden? Die Antworten darauf finden sich in diesem hinreißenden, warmherzigen, komischen, bewegenden und fantasievollen Lesebuch.

Der Heiligabend läuft für Stephen ganz und gar nicht, wie er sollte. Nicht nur muss er Weihnachten zum ersten Mal ohne seine Frau verbringen, ihm wird ausgerechnet am 24.12. fristlos gekündigt. Doch dann klingelt ein Kollege an der Tür – und sorgt dafür, dass Stephen eines der schönsten Weihnachtsfeste seines Lebens feiert.In zwanzig Geschichten erzählt die irische Bestsellerautorin Maeve Binchy von den großen und kleinen Ereignissen rund um die Advents- und Weihnachtszeit – und von den Wundern, die gerade zu dieser Zeit immer wieder möglich sind.

Bundeling van twee romans over katholiek familieleven in de jaren vijftig in Noord-Ierland.

Deux recueils de nouvelles réunis, histoires de rencontres, tranches de vie quotidienne, chassés-croisés de personnages qui vous emporteront dans une Irlande pleine de charmes à la rencontre de : Tom et Meg qui font connaissance dans l'avion les emmenant chez leurs enfants respectifs ; Mme Doyle qui, déchargée de la préparation du repas de Noël, se sent inutile ; Gina qui part pour un voyage initiatique en Irlande sur les traces d'un passé occulté par sa mère ; Annie et Allan, victimes d'un échange de valises dans un aéroport londonien... Aucun sentiment, si discret soit-il, n'échappe à la finesse de Maeve Binchy.

Een Engelse en een Ierse vrouw zijn al sinds hun kindertijd bevriend.

Die warmherzige Benny und die elfenhafte Eva Malone sind seit ihrer Schulzeit in dem schläfrigen Knockglen enge Freundinnen. Ihre Wege trennen sich auch nicht, als beide zum Studium nach Dublin gehen und sie auf einen Kreis junger Leute um den attraktiven Jack Foley und die schöne, aber egoistische Nan Mahon stoßen. Sehr bald müssen Benny und Eve lernen, daß wahre Freundschaft wichtiger ist als alle Zerstreuungen, die das Leben in der Großstadt ihnen bieten kann.

Blicken Sie hinter die Türen der Chestnut Street in Dublin: Mit ihrem unnachahmlichen Gespür für das Erzählenswerte im Alltäglichen, das Anrührende und Unterhaltsame im Leben ganz gewöhnlicher Menschen gewährt die irische Bestsellerautorin Maeve Binchy ihren Lesern Einblick in die Schicksale der Bewohner der Chestnut Street. Teils romantisch, teils tragisch, teils heiter und immer warmherzig und berührend sind die Momentaufnahmen, die Maeve Binchy in „Zeit der Kastanienblüte“ vereint hat. Die Autorin lässt die Leser und Leserinnen teilhaben am bunten Treiben, am Weinen und Lachen, Lieben und Streiten von Menschen, die sich bald nicht mehr wie Figuren in einem Buch anfühlen, sondern wie Freunde. Wie auch schon ihre anderen Romane, darunter „Der grüne See“, „Die irische Signora“ und „Ein Haus in Irland“, die in England, den USA und in Deutschland zu Bestsellern wurden, geht Maeve Binchys Roman „Zeit der Kastanienblüte“ zu Herzen und begeistert durch seine besondere Atmosphäre.

Maeve Binchy wurde in Dublin geboren, studierte Geschichte und arbeitete als Lehrerin. 1969 ging sie als Kolumnistin zur Irish Times. Sie hat zahlreiche Romane, Kurzgeschichten und Theaterstücke geschrieben. Ihre Romane, darunter „Der grüne See“, „Die irische Signora“ und „Ein Haus in Irland“ wurden in England, den USA und in Deutschland zu Bestsellern. Auch „Cathys Traum“, „Wiedersehen bei Brenda“ und „Insel der Sterne“ landeten gleich nach Erscheinen sofort ganz oben auf den internationalen Bestsellerlisten. Maeve Binchy starb am 30. Juli 2012. EIN COTTAGE AM MEER ist ihr letzter Roman.

Een jonge vrouw, die verdwenen is en van wie men aanneemt dat ze verdronken is, duikt op in Londen met de man die ze liefheeft.

Een Ierse die haar geliefde naar Sicilië is gevolgd, keert na jaren naar haar vaderland terug om daar les te gaan geven aan een avondschool.

Two women--one American, the other Irish-- trade houses for the summer and the resulting change of scenery helps them remake their lives. The American is Marilyn of Connecticut, mourning the death of her son, the Irish woman is Ria of Dublin, a mother of two, whose husband had an affair and made the woman pregnant. By the author of The Glass Lake.