Sophie Kinsella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophie Kinsella
|
|
|---|---|
Kinsella in 2009
|
|
| Born | Madeleine Sophie Townley 12 December 1969 Wandsworth, London, England |
| Died | 10 December 2025 (aged 55) Dorset, England |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Period | 1995–2025 |
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Notable works | The Shopaholic series |
| Spouse |
Henry Wickham
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 5 |
Madeleine Sophie Wickham (born Townley; 12 December 1969 – 10 December 2025), known by her writing name Sophie Kinsella, was a popular English author. She wrote many books that became bestsellers around the world. Her stories have sold over 50 million copies in more than 60 countries. They have also been translated into over 40 different languages.
Two of her most famous books, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were turned into a movie. This film, called Confessions of a Shopaholic, came out in 2009.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Madeleine Sophie Townley was born on 12 December 1969. She was the oldest of three sisters. Both of her younger sisters, Gemma and Abigail Townley, also became writers.
Sophie went to several schools, including Putney High School. She later attended New College, Oxford, a famous university. There, she first studied Music. After a year, she changed her focus to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a journalist, writing about financial topics.
Becoming a Writer
Sophie Kinsella wrote her first novel when she was 24 years old. It was published when she was 26. This book, called The Tennis Party, was very successful. Critics and readers loved it, and it quickly became a top ten bestseller.
She published six more novels using her real name, Madeleine Wickham. These books included A Desirable Residence and Sleeping Arrangements.
The Birth of Sophie Kinsella
Later, she decided to write under a different name, a pen name. This is a special name a writer uses instead of their real one. She chose "Sophie Kinsella" from her middle name and her mother's maiden name. Her first book as Sophie Kinsella was sent to publishers without her real name attached. Everyone loved it! She finally shared her true identity when her book Can You Keep a Secret? was published in December 2003.
The Shopaholic Series
Sophie Kinsella is most famous for her Shopaholic series. These books tell the funny adventures of a character named Becky Bloomwood. Becky is a financial journalist, but she struggles to manage her own money. She loves shopping, and this often leads to many funny and sometimes tricky situations in her life.
The first two Shopaholic books inspired the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. This film was released in February 2009.
Other Popular Books
Sophie Kinsella continued to write many popular books. The Shopaholic series grew with titles like Shopaholic to the Rescue (2015) and Christmas Shopaholic (2019).
She also wrote many standalone novels. Some of these include My Not So Perfect Life (2017), Surprise Me (2018), and Love Your Life (2020). Her book The Party Crasher came out in 2021, followed by The Burnout in 2023. Her last novel, What Does It Feel Like?, was published in 2024.
In 2015, Sophie Kinsella also wrote a book for young adults, called Finding Audrey. This book was published in June 2015. One of her novels, Sleeping Arrangements, was even turned into a musical in London in 2013.
Personal Life and Achievements
In 1991, Sophie Kinsella married Henry Wickham. They had met while studying at Oxford University. Henry, who was a school headmaster, also helped manage her writing business. They lived in both Dorset and London with their five children: four sons and one daughter.
Sophie Kinsella passed away at her home in Dorset on 10 December 2025, at the age of 55, after a period of illness.
Her work received many honors. In 2025, she was nominated for "Author of the Year" by the British Book Awards. Her 2024 novel, What Does It Feel Like?, was recognized by The New York Times as one of its 100 Notable Books of the Year. The Guardian newspaper also listed it as one of the best romance novels of that year.
See also
In Spanish: Sophie Kinsella para niños
