Overview

A Sunday Times Book of the Year and winner of the International Rubery Prize for Non-fiction that casts new light on the remarkable life story of a literary legend. E. Nesbit's brilliant children's books have enchanted millions and influenced bestselling authors C.S. Lewis, P. L. Travers, Jacqueline Wilson and many more. But who was the woman behind best loved classics The Railway Children and Five Children and It? Despite a troubling childhood Nesbit grew up to be was playful, contradictory and creative. She hosted legendary parties and was described by George Bernard Shaw – one of several lovers – as 'audaciously unconventional'. As a founding member of the Fabian Society she was an outspoken Marxist. Through Nesbit's letters and archival research, Fitzsimons reveals her as a prolific activist and writer on socialism. Fitzsimons, acclaimed biographer of Wilde's Women, has written the most authoritative biography in more than three decades. Here, she brings to light the extraordinary life story of an icon, creating a portrait of a woman in whom pragmatism and idealism worked side-by-side to produce a singular mind and literary talent. AUTHOR: Eleanor Fitzsimons is a researcher, writer, journalist and broadcaster specialising in historical and current feminist issues. Her work has been published in a range of newspapers and journals including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Irish Times and she is a regular radio and television contributor.

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9780715652022

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Reviews

'A terrific book' Neil Gaiman 'A very well-researched biography' Kate Atkinson 'Excellent' Irish Times 'Readable and thorough' Guardian 'Eleanor Fitzsimons' painstaking research gives us a new insight into the bizarre Bohemian life of the groundbreaking children's author E. Nesbit. It's a fantastic read' Jacqueline Wilson 'Absolutely superb!' Hilary McKay, author of Costa Book award-winning The Skylarks War 'In this long-overdue new biography, Eleanor Fitzsimons gives us a nuanced yet compelling portrait of E. Nesbit's many-facetted personality, life and works, as well as of the politically and culturally vibrant milieu in which she lived' Fiona Sampson, author of In Search of Mary Shelley 'What a stirring and unexpected story Eleanor Fitzsimons tells and what a subject she has found. I can't think of a single writer who doesn't owe something to Edith Nesbit's glorious books for children. The extraordinary woman who wrote them proves to be every bit as brave, funny and imaginative as her own intrepid characters' Miranda Seymour, author of In Byron's Wake 'One of the greatest children's writers, and an acknowledged much loved influence on Joan Aiken E. Nesbit is celebrated in this wonderful new biography by Eleanor Fitzsimons' Lizza Aiken 'An exceptional biography about an absolutely fascinating individual' Adam Roberts, Vice-President of the H.G. Wells Society 'A fascinating, thoughtfully organized, thoroughly researched, often surprising biography' Kirkus Review 'Fitzsimons delivers a sprightly and highly readable life of a writer who deserves even wider recognition' Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Eleanor Fitzsimonsis a researcher, writer, journalist and broadcaster specialising in historical and current feminist issues. Her work has been published in a range of newspapers and journals including theSunday Times, theGuardianand theIrish Timesand she is a regular radio and television contributor. Her first book Wilde's Women(Duckworth 2015) was widely and positively reviewed and won several prizes for excellence. Her latest biography The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit(Duckworth 2018) was also published to critical acclaim.

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