THE HUSBAND of late Irish author Maeve Binchy has revealed the reason he no longer dedicates his books.
Children’s author Gordon Snell told Ray D’Arcy on Friday’s The Late Late Show how he and his wife would dedicate their books to each other, often with romantic tributes.
However since her death in 2012 at the age of 73, he explained he no longer dedicates his books to anyone – as no one can replace her.
He told D’Arcy: “We were lucky enough to both be publishing books so we dedicated them to each other, which is a fantastic thing to be able to do.
“So any time we had a publication there was a great ceremony, we always made great celebrations for everything.
“We’d give each other the book and there was the dedication. There were tearful embraces and it was a great occasion.”
Asked by the host who he dedicates his books to now, Snell explained: “I haven’t dedicated them to anybody. You couldn’t follow that.
“There isn’t any replacement or any possibility of anybody else being a ‘dedicatee’, as we used to call it.”
The couple married in 1977 after meeting in London while Binchy was working there as a journalist, before they relocated to Ireland.
Binchy, one of Ireland’s best-loved writers, sold more than 40million books worldwide.
They have also been adapted for film and television, including the 2007 feature How About You, Starring Imelda Staunton and Vanessa Redgrave.
What a nice interview with Gordon Snell. Gentleman. #latelate
— Peter Cunningham (@PCNear) May 4, 2018
How sweet is this interview with Maeve Binchy’s lovely husband Gordon on #latelate? Minding Frankie is @INECKILLARNEY on May 21st and definitely worth checking out!#LateLateShow #Kerry https://t.co/mebBS1cHks
— InspireMe Ireland (@inspiremeirl) May 4, 2018
#latelate Maeve Binchy's husband must be missing her dreadfully. Nice guy.
— Pen Stop (@Clooneqwarehawk) May 4, 2018
