Sophie Kinsella’s battle with brain cancer and literary journey

Sophie Kinsellathe famous English writer, revealed to her fans in April that she has brain cancer. She did this through a post on social media in which she shared the therapies she had to undergo and why she decided not to make the news public earlier.

Verissimo, the guests of the weekend (Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November): from Sophie Kinsella to Salvatore Esposito

Sophie Kinsella tells her story to Silvia Toffanin today in the new episode of Verissimo. Let’s follow the history of the best-selling author I like shopping.

Life and career

Sophie Kinsellapseudonym of Madeleine Sophie Wickham, was born in London on December 12, 1969 (so she is 54 years old). After graduating in philosophy, politics and economics from New College, Oxford, she worked briefly as a financial journalist before devoting herself fully to fiction. Under her real name she published seven novels, which are not well known to the general public. In 2000, she switched to the so-called “chick lit” genre and published her first international success, The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic, under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella (her mother’s maiden name). Between 2000 and 2010 she wrote nine more novels as Kinsella, including five sequels to I Love Shopping.

The success of I Love Shopping

I Love Shopping by Sophie Kinsella, originally titled “The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic”, is one of the most emblematic novels of the chick lit genre, first published in 2000. The series enjoyed enormous international success, cementing Kinsella’s reputation as one of the most loved and followed authors of her genre. The novel’s protagonist, Rebecca Bloomwood, is a financial journalist with an insatiable passion for shopping. Despite advising others on how to manage their money, Becky is constantly overwhelmed by debt due to her compulsive spending. The contrast between her professional and personal lives not only offers moments of lightness and humor, but also opens a window to deeper themes such as self-control, responsibility and the pursuit of happiness. The light-hearted and often hilarious tone with which Kinsella tells Becky’s adventures has captivated readers looking for enjoyable and carefree reading. The success of I Love Shopping led to the creation of a film of the same name in 2009, starring Isla Fisher as Becky. Although the film made some changes to the book’s plot, it further enhanced interest and appreciation for Becky’s character and her financial misfortunes.

The works

The series about the daring adventures of Becky Bloomwood (published in Italy by Mondadori) continues with I Love Shopping in White (2003), I Love Shopping with My Sister (2004), I Love Shopping for Baby (2007), Mini Shopaholic ( 2010). ), and Shopaholic to the Stars (2014). Her other books include Can You Keep a Secret? (2003), The Undomestic Goddess (2005), Remember Me? (2008), Twenties Girl (2009), I’ve Got Your Number (2011), Wedding Night (2013), Finding Audrey (2015), My Not So Perfect Life (2017), Surprise Me (2018), Christmas Shopaholic ( 2019), Love Your Life (2020) and The Burnout (2023), all published by Mondadori.

Private life

Sophie Kinsella lives in London with her husband Henry Wickham and five children (Freddy, Hugo, Oscar, Rex and Sybella). Her sister, Gemma Townley, is also a moderately successful writer (and musician).

The tumor

Sophie Kinsella announced on April 17 last year that she had a brain cancer. She explained that she has undergone surgery and is undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She announced this herself with a message on social media. “I have wanted to share a health update with you for a long time,” writes the author of many bestsellers, “and I was waiting for the strength to do so. At the end of 2022, I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. I didn’t share it sooner because I wanted to make sure my kids could hear and process the news in privacy and adjust to our new normal.

Sophie Kinsella, in “What It Feels Like” her battle against brain cancer

Speaking to the New York Times, she said: ‘For a long time I couldn’t say the word ‘cancer’. There was still a residual sense of shame, of disbelief due to fear.”

And she remembers the first symptoms of the disease. “My legs stopped working,” she told the American newspaper. “I was moving strangely, I couldn’t climb stairs.” A brain scan followed, and the diagnosis. The doctors removed the tumor on November 25, 2022 with an 8-hour operation. “When I woke up, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t write my name. I had no sense of balance. I couldn’t turn my head.”

The latest book, ‘How it feels’

In her latest work, Sophie Kinsella talks about the disease. “My most autobiographical book. Eva’s story is my story,” the author explains. In the story, Eve, a famous writer, wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there.