Maggie O'Farrell

Maggie O'Farrell

Maggie O'Farrell was born in 1972 and is currently 54 years old. Maggie O'Farrell was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

Maggie O'Farrell is known for writing in the Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Literary Fiction genres.

Maggie O'Farrell has written 11 standalone novels, starting with After You'd Gone in 2000. The most recently released novel was The Marriage Portrait, which was released in 2022. There is an upcoming standalone novel entitled Land which is being released on June 2nd, 2026.

Maggie O'Farrell has also written one Non-Fiction book called, I Am, I Am, I Am.

Maggie O'Farrell: Awards & Accolades

O'Farrell's books have won multiple awards, After You'd Gone won the Nielsen Awards, Silver Bestseller, in 2018. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox won the Nielsen Awards, Silver Bestseller, in 2018. Instructions for a Heatwave won the Nielsen Awards, Silver Bestseller, in 2018. Hamnet won the Waterstones, Book of the Year, in 2020 as well as the Women's Prize - For Fiction in 2020, British Book Awards - Fiction Book of the Year in 2021.

The following novels by Maggie O'Farrell were nominated for these awards:

• The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox: Audie Award, Best Fiction (2008).
• The Hand That First Held Mine: British Book Awards, UK Author of the Year (2010).
• Instructions for a Heatwave: British Book Awards, UK Author of the Year (2013).
• This Must Be the Place: British Book Awards, Fiction Book of the Year (2017).
• I Am, I Am, I Am: British Book Awards, Non-Fiction: Narrative Book of the Year (2018).
• Hamnet: Goodreads Awards, Best Historical Fiction (2020). Walter Scott Prize, Best Historical Fiction Novel (2021).
• The Marriage Portrait: Goodreads Awards, Best Historical Fiction (2022). Waterstones, Book of the Year (2022). British Book Awards, Fiction Book of the Year (2023). Women's Prize, For Fiction (2023).

Maggie O'Farrell: Lists & Other Mentions

• Instructions for a Heatwave was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2013 Autumn Pick.
• This Must Be the Place was a Richard & Judy Book Club 2017 Summer Pick and a BBC Radio 2 Book Club May 2016 Pick.
• The Marriage Portrait was the Reese's Book Club December '22 Pick and a BBC Radio 2 Book Club September 2022 Pick.
• Hamnet was the Library Science Book Club January 2026 Pick.
• Hamnet has made several lists including:
  1. Good Housekeeping: 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors Selection in 2021.
  2. New York Times: 100 Notable Books Selection in 2020.
  3. Waterstones: The Books You've Always Meant to Read Selection in 2020.
• The Marriage Portrait was a Time Magazine: 100 Must-Read Books Selection in 2022.
• After You'd Gone was a Refinery29: The Ultimate Book Bucket List Selection in 2023.

Related Authors

Fans of Maggie O'Farrell also enjoy these authors:

1. Abraham Verghese, author of: Cutting for Stone.
2. Paula McLain, author of: The Paris Wife.
3. Adriana Trigiani, author of: The Shoemaker's Wife.
4. Pat Conroy, author of: The Prince of Tides.
5. Elif Shafak, author of: The Island of Missing Trees.
6. Ernest Hemingway, author of: The Old Man and the Sea.
7. Jeannette Walls, author of: The Glass Castle.
8. Alice Sebold, author of: The Lovely Bones.
9. Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the Elm Creek Quilts Series.
10. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of: Eat, Pray, Love.

Maggie O'Farrell: F.A.Q