Madeleine St. John books in order

Q: "How many books has Madeleine St. John written?"

"Madeleine St. John has written four books in one series."

Q: "What was Madeleine St. John's first book?"

"Madeleine St. John's first book is The Women in Black, published in 1993."

Q: "What is Madeleine St John best known for?"

"She is best known for The Women in Black (1993), a warm comedy set in the ladies' fashion department of a Sydney department store in the late 1950s. The novel was adapted into the 2018 Australian film Ladies in Black."

Standalone Novels

Title	Published	Buy on Amazon
The Women in Black	1993	Buy
A Pure Clear Light	1996	Buy
The Essence of the Thing	1997	Buy
A Stairway to Paradise	1999	Buy

Madeleine St John was born in Sydney in 1941 and moved to England in her twenties, where she lived for the rest of her life. She published her first novel, The Women in Black, in 1993 at the age of 52. Set in a Sydney department store during the summer of 1959, it follows the women who work the fashion floor as they deal with customers, ambition, and romance.

Her later novels moved to London settings. The Essence of the Thing was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1997, making her the first Australian woman to receive that nomination. She wrote four novels in total before her death in 2006. Her books have found new readers in recent years, partly thanks to the 2018 film Ladies in Black, based on The Women in Black.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Madeleine St. John written?

Madeleine St. John has written four books in one series.

What was Madeleine St. John's first book?

Madeleine St. John’s first book is The Women in Black, published in 1993.

What is Madeleine St John best known for?

She is best known for The Women in Black (1993), a warm comedy set in the ladies’ fashion department of a Sydney department store in the late 1950s. The novel was adapted into the 2018 Australian film Ladies in Black.

Standalone Novels#

Frequently Asked Questions

Standalone Novels