Magdalen Nabb

Magdalen Nabb
Born	Magdalen Nuttal 16 January 1947 Church, Lancashire, England
Died	18 August 2007(2007-08-18) (aged 60) Florence, Italy
Notable awards	Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (1991, 1993)
Spouse	James Nabb (div.)
Children	Liam

Magdalen Nabb (née Nuttal; 16 January 1947 – 18 August 2007) was a British author, best known for the Marshal Guarnaccia detective novels.

Early life and education

Magdalen Nuttal was born in Church, Lancashire on 16 January 1947, and was raised in Ramsbottom.[1] She went by 'Magda' with her two sisters and parents. Both of her parents' died while she was in childhood; her father died of rheumatic fever at age 32 when she was 7, and her mother died suddenly when Nuttal was 13. She and her sisters moved in with their aunt, but within two weeks, their uncle died.[2]

Nuttal attended the Convent Grammar School in Bury, Greater Manchester, then attended an art college in Manchester,[1] where she studied arts and pottery.^[citation needed]

Career

Nabb began her career teaching art at a primary school in Holcombe, Greater Manchester.[2]

After moving to Florence in 1975, Nabb initially worked as a grape-picker and a potter before she began writing. Soon, she began working at Casa Guidi, descriptions of which she used in her first novel; she also met the physical model for Marshal Guarnaccia. Her first book, Death of an Englishman, was first published in 1981. Belgian writer Georges Simenon was impressed with the novel and reached out to Nabb, who had admired Simenon's work; the two became lifelong friends.[1][3] Nabb subsequently published 12 additional crime detective novels, all of which are set in Florence, which she describes as a "very secret city". She lived near enough to the Carabinieri station at Pitti to stroll there regularly and have a chat with the marshal, who kept her up to date on crime in the city. Her final novel, Vita Nuova in the Marshal Guarnaccia series, was posthumously published in 2008.

In addition to her novels intended for adults, Nabb wrote 12 Josie Smith books for children, all of which are set in Ramsbottom in the school Nabb attended. In 1991, Jose Smith and Eileen, the second book in the series, won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.[2] She also wrote two unrelated children's books, The Enchanted Horse and Twilight Ghost. The former won the 1993 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.[1]

Nabb also occasionally wrote journalistic pieces for English, German and Italian papers.^[citation needed]

Philanthropy

Nabb donated and raised funds for the Brooke Hospital for Animals, a UK-based international equine charity. All royalties from her 1993 book The Enchanted Horse were donated to the charity. In 2005, she raised money by riding across Kenya for six hours daily.[1]

In the mid-2000s, Nabb helped residents in Afghanistan, first by supporting a school for Afghan refugee children, then financing a well to provide fresh water.[1]

Personal life

Nuttal married James Nabb, though the marriage was brief. The couple had a son, Liam.[1][2]

In 1975, Nabb moved to Florence with her son, Liam, and her new companion, poet Nigel Thompson.[1]

In 1994, Nabb suffered a stroke but recovered.[1]

Nabb died in Florence of a stroke at age 60 on 18 August 2007.[2][3]

Publications

Books for adults

Standalone books

• Co-written with Paolo Vagheggi: The Prosecutor. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1987. ISBN 978-0-312-01497-1.
• Cosimo. Diogenes. 2004. ISBN 978-3-257-23551-7.

Maresciallo Guarnaccia series

• Death of an Englishman. Scribners. 1981.[4]
• Death of a Dutchman. Scribners. 1982.[5]
• Death in Springtime. Scribners. 1983.[6]
• Death in Autumn. New York: C. Scribner's. 1985. ISBN 978-0-684-18337-4.[7]
• The Marshal and the Murderer. New York: Scribner. 1987. ISBN 978-0-684-18884-3.[8]
• The Marshal and the Madwoman. New York: Scribner. 1988. ISBN 978-0-684-18984-0.[9]
• The Marshal's Own Case. New York: Scribner. 1990. ISBN 978-0-684-19201-7.[10]
• The Marshal Makes His Report. Crime Club. 1991. ISBN 978-0-00-232332-1.
• The Marshal at the Villa Torrini. New York: HarperCollins. 1993. ISBN 978-0-06-016915-2.
• The Monster of Florence. New York: Soho Crime. 2013. ISBN 978-1-61695-324-9.[11]
• Property of Blood. New York: SOHO. 2001. ISBN 978-1-56947-251-4.[12]
• Some Bitter Taste. New York: Soho Press. 2002. ISBN 978-1-56947-317-7.[13]
• The Innocent. New York: Soho Press. 2005. ISBN 978-1-56947-414-3. OCLC 60543306.[14]
• Vita Nuova. New York: Soho. 2008. ISBN 978-1-56947-493-8. OCLC 174138965.[15]

Books for children

Standalone books

• The Enchanted Horse. Orchard Books. 1993. ISBN 978-0-531-06805-2. Illustrated by Julek Heller.[16]
• Twilight Ghost. Collins. 2002. ISBN 978-0-00-713397-0.

Josie Smith series

The Josie Smith books are illustrated by Pirkko Vainio and published by Margaret K. McElderry Books in New York.

• Josie Smith. 1989. ISBN 978-0-689-50485-3.
• Josie Smith at the Seashore. 1990. ISBN 978-0-689-50492-1.[17]
• Josie Smith and Eileen. M.K. McElderry Books. 1992. ISBN 978-0-689-50534-8.[18]
• Josie Smith at School. 1991. ISBN 978-0-689-50533-1.[19]
• Josie Smith at Christmas. 1992. ISBN 978-0-00-674537-2.
• Josie Smith in Hospital. 1993. ISBN 978-0-00-674720-8.
• Josie Smith at the Market. 1995. ISBN 978-0-00-675064-2.
• Josie Smith in Winter. 1999. ISBN 978-0-006-75407-7.
• Josie Smith in Spring. 2000. ISBN 978-0-754-07802-9.
• Josie Smith in Summer. 2000. ISBN 978-0-006-75409-1.
• Josie Smith in Autumn. 2000. ISBN 978-0-006-75410-7.

References

1. "Magdalen Nabb". The Daily Telegraph. 22 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
2. Stones, Rosemary (27 August 2007). "Magdalen Nabb". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
3. Stasio, Marilyn (28 August 2007). "Magdalen Nabb, Mystery Writer in Italy, Dies at 60". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
4. "Death of an Englishman". Kirkus Reviews. 1 November 1982. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
5. "Death of a Dutchman". Kirkus Reviews. 1 March 1983. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
6. "Death in Springtime". Kirkus Reviews. 15 April 1984. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
7. "Death in Autumn". Booklist. July 1985. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
8. "The Marshal and the Murderer: A Marshal Guarnaccia Mystery by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 1 January 1987. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
9. "The Marshal and the Madwoman by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 1 January 1988. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
10. "The Marshal's Own Case: A Marshal Guarnaccia Mystery by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 1 July 1990. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
11. Keymer, David (15 October 2013). "The Monster of Florence". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
12. "PROPERTY OF BLOOD by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
13. "SOME BITTER TASTE: A Marshal Guarnaccia Investigation by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 12 August 2002. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
14. "The Innocent by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 18 July 2005. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
15. "Vita Nuova: A Marshal Guarnaccia Investigation by Magdalen Nabb". Publishers Weekly. 28 April 2008. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
16. "The Enchanted Horse". Booklist. 15 November 1993. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
17. "Josie Smith at the Seashore". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
18. "Josie and Eilleen". Booklist. 1 June 1992. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
19. "Josie Smith at School". Booklist. 1 February 1992. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Obituary in The Times, 23 August 2007
• 2004 interview, last of 8 linked parts – Part Eight featuring The Monster of Florence, website Italian-Mysteries.com
• Magdalen Nabb at Library of Congress, with 35 library catalogue records