Culture: author Sophie Kinsella dies at 55

Rome, 10 December (LaPresse) – Sophie Kinsella, one of the world’s most famous bestselling authors, with over 50 million copies sold, has died. She would have turned 56 on 12 December. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy) this morning. She died peacefully, with her last days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy. We cannot imagine what life will be like without her sparkle and her love of life,” her family wrote on social media. In 2024, Kinsella announced that she had glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumour. “Despite her illness, which she endured with unimaginable courage, Sophie considered herself truly fortunate – to have such a wonderful family and friends, and to have had such extraordinary success in her writing career. She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. We will miss her terribly; our hearts are broken.” Under her real name, Madeleine Wickham, she had published critically acclaimed romance novels, but success came in 2000 with I Love Shopping, which started the saga. The first two books were then made into a film, also titled I Love Shopping.