Mazo de La Roche: Rich and Famous Writer (Quest Library): Rich & Famous Writer: 18 (Quest Biography) - Softcover

Kirk, Heather

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1894852206 ISBN 13: 9781894852203

Publisher: XYZ Publishing, 2006

Synopsis

In 1927, Mazo de la Roche submitted her manuscript to the competition for a prestigious U.S. literary prize, the Atlantic Monthly-Little, Brown Award for Best Novel. She won the cash prize of $10,000, and Little, Brown and Company published her novel, "Jalna". This book became an immediate best-seller. Suddenly, she was rich and famous. Mazo de la Roche went on to publish 16 novels in a popular series about a family named Whiteoak, living in Southern Ontario in a big, old, red-brick house named Jalna. A hit play, a Hollywood movie, and TV mini-series in both Canada and France all were based on her saga of the Whiteoak family. The millions of books sold in 193 English-language editions and 92 foreign-language editions of the series produced substantial royalty cheques. Her success allowed her to travel abroad and to live in a mansion near Windsor Castle. Mazo de la Roche hated being a celebrity and tried to escape the public attention her fame brought. She was a private person whose creativity depended on a quiet daily routine. She created unforgettable characters who come to life for her readers, but she was secretive about her own life. When she died in 1961, her cousin and life-long companion Caroline Clement burned her diaries, adding to the aura of mystery that already surrounded Mazo. Once Canada's best-known writer internationally, Mazo de la Roche published 37 books in her long career. "The Jalna" stories, based on memories of her family and the places in Southern Ontario where she grew up, depict a way of life that is gone forever. And her own life story is as intriguing as the plots she created in her fiction.

About this title

Product Description

In 1927, Mazo de la Roche was an impoverished writer in Toronto when she won a $10,000 prize from the American magazine Atlantic Monthly for her novel Jalna. The book became an immediate bestseller. In 1929, the sequel Whiteoaks also went to the top of bestseller lists. Mazo went on to publish 16 novels in the popular series about a Canadian family named Whiteoak, living in a house called Jalna. Her success allowed her to travel the world and to live in a mansion near Windsor Castle. Mazo created unforgettable characters who come to life for her readers, but she was secretive about her own life and tried to escape the public attention her fame brought.

About the Author

Heather Kirk writes books for young people and adults. Heather has also written newspaper articles, radio scripts, and scholarly criticism. She has won several awards for her work.

About this edition

• Publisher: XYZ Publishing
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1894852206
• ISBN 13: 9781894852203
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 196