Listening for Madeleine - by Leonard S Marcus (Paperback)

About the Book

"A book of interviews with people who knew Madeleine L'Engle, author of the children's classic A wrinkle in time, in the many facets of her life"--

Book Synopsis

Madeleine L'Engle is perhaps best recognized as the author of A Wrinkle in Time, the enduring milestone work of fantasy fiction that won the 1963 John Newbery Medal for excellence in children's literature and has enthralled millions of readers for the past fifty years. But to those who knew her well, L'Engle was much more besides: a larger-than-life persona, an inspiring mentor, a strong-willed matriarch, a spiritual guide, and a rare friend. In Listening for Madeleine, the renowned literary historian and biographer Leonard S. Marcus reveals Madeleine L'Engle in all her complexity through a series of incisive interviews with the people who knew her most intimately. Vivid reminiscences of family members, colleagues, and friends create a kaleidoscope of keen insights and snapshop moments that help readers to understand the many sides of this singularly enthralling woman.

Review Quotes

"Mr. Marcus's immensely readable and fascinating book will . . . stand as the definitive portraity of Madeleine L'Engle." --James Kennedy, The Wall Street Journal

"Insightful . . . Impressionistic and satisfyingly complex." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A fascinating book and an excellent introduction to both L'Engle and her work." --Booklist

"Though we never met, Madeleine L'Engle has been a close friend for years--for decades. Her story is presented here in the recollections of fifty comrades, and I gladly pull up a chair to listen in." --Margaret Edson, author of Wit

About the Author

Leonard S. Marcus is one of the world's leading writers about children's books and the people who create them. His own award-winning books include Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; Minders of Make-Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children's Literature; Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work; and The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.