The Husband: Number One Bestseller

Deirdre Purcell was born and brought up in Dublin. She had an eclectic set of careers, including acting at the Abbey Theatre, before she became a journalist and writer, winning awards for her work on the Sunday Tribune. She published sixteen critically acclaimed novels, including The Husband, The Winter Gathering and Grace in Winter, all of which were bestsellers in Ireland. She adapted Falling for a Dancer into a popular four-part television mini-series, while Love Like Hate Adore was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. Deirdre had two adult sons, and lived in County Meath with her husband. She passed away in 2023.