Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling British author whose “Shopaholic” series of novels became the basis for the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholicdied at the age of 55.
The author, who also wrote under her real name Madeleine Wickham, suffered from a rare form of aggressive brain cancer. She died this morning, her family wrote in a post on their Instagram account.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mom). She passed away peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family, music and warmth, Christmas and joy.”
Kinsella announced last year that she had been battling glioblastoma for two years. Despite surgery, doctors concluded that the cancer was incurable. Kinsella will later write a book about her experience.
“Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie considered herself truly lucky to have such wonderful family and friends and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career,” her family wrote. “She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. We will miss her so much that our hearts break.”
Kinsella began his writing career at the age of 24 with “The Tennis Journey” under his real name, going on to write six more before beginning to use a pseudonym. Her girl-lit “Confessions” series of novels, about a financial journalist in deep debt due to her own money problems, began with the 2000 book “The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic.”
This book and the second, “Shopaholic Abroad”, will form Disney’s romantic comedy in 2009. Confessions of a Shopaholicwith Isla Fisher and Hugh Darcy. His 2003 book, “Can You Keep a Secret?,” also received the film treatment, becoming an independent romantic comedy starring Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin. Peter Hutchings adapted it.
Kinsella’s latest book, “How Does It Feel?” was a semi-fictional story about his experience living with cancer.
Her agents, Araminta Whitley and Marina de Pass, called her “a once-in-a-lifetime author and friend,” adding, “She had a rare gift for creating emotionally resonant protagonists and stories that spoke to and entertained readers wherever they were in the world and whatever challenges they faced.” »
She is survived by her husband, Henry, and five children.
