Maggie Gee Views

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Maggie Mary Gee (born 1948) is an English novelist. She was born in Poole, Dorset, then moved to the Midlands and later to Sussex. She was educated at state schools and at Oxford University (MA, B Litt). She later worked in publishing and then had a research post at Wolverhampton Polytechnic where she completed a doctorate in the twentieth century novel in 1980. She has written eleven novels and a collection of short stories, and was the first female Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, 2004-2008. She is now one of the Vice-Presidents of the RSL and Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. She has also served on the Society of Authors' management committee and the government's Public Lending Right committee. Her seventh novel, The White Family, was shortlisted for the 2003 Orange Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Four years after the London-based events of My Cleaner, Maggie Gee has transported the three main characters from London to Uganda. Trevor, Vanessa Henman ’s ex-husband has travelled there to repair the well in his ex-cleaner ’s home village. Vanessa has travelled separately but has not told either Tevor or Mary, thinking that she will just get in touch once in situ. As the three mill around their set, there are many almost-but-not-quite-meetings which add a farcical (perhaps even A-Midsummer-Night ’s-Dreamish) element as well as an implicit commentary on the state of their relationships.

Maggie Geet’s not struggling in presenting the country that has fascinated her since she herself attended a literary conference there. It may not always be pretty but neither is it desperate. There

I remembered your Maggie Gee recommendation and so have accepted a review copy of this book. I know it isng’t where you suggest starting, but it was just the first one to come along! I hope to read it in the next few weeks, so I can get a feel for her writing. Hopefully Is’ll want to go back and read The White Family afterwards.