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222 ratings | 2 reviews | avg rating:4.47

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Brenda Murphy

Goodreads Author

Born

in Beverly, Massachusetts, The United States

May 12

Website

https://brendamurphyauthor.com

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction, History

Member Since

August 2014

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Brenda Murphy is the author of more than twenty books, mostly about American drama and theater. Recently she has been writing biography, memoir, and biographical fiction. Her latest books include Kindling of a Firebrand: Fran Sweeney and the Fight Against Boston's Fascism, A Historical Novel (2026), When Light Breaks Through: A Salem Witch Trials Story (2023), Becoming Carlotta: A Biographical Novel (2018), based on the life of the actress Carlotta Monterey, Eugene O’Neill Remembered (2017, with George Monteiro), a biography in documents, and After the Voyage: An Irish American Story (2016), historical fiction based on the experience of her immigrant family in the Boston area from 1870 until the 1930s. After teaching at universities in New ...more

Combine Editions
Brenda Murphy’s books

Average rating: 3.98 · 492 ratings · 52 reviews · 69 distinct works • Similar authors

	After the Voyage: An Irish American Story 3.89 avg rating — 217 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When Light Breaks Through: A Salem Witch Trials Story 3.80 avg rating — 94 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Streetcar Named Desire: Critical Insights 4.17 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Becoming Carlotta: A Biographical Novel 4.05 avg rating — 22 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	O'Neill: Long Day's Journey into Night 4.43 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2001 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Follow Spot (The Rowan House Books Book 6) 4.58 avg rating — 12 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Miller: Death of a Salesman (Plays in Production) (Volume 0) 4.11 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1995 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tennessee Williams and Elia Kazan: A Collaboration in the Theatre 3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1992 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kindling of a Firebrand: Fran Sweeney and the Fight Against Boston's Fascism, A Historical Novel 4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cambridge Companion to American Women Playwrights 4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1999 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Brenda Murphy…

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Brenda Murphy is currently reading

Mrs Van Gogh

by Caroline Cauchi

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Sep 10, 2026 08:49AM

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The Satisfaction Café: A Novel

by Kathy Wang (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 22, 2025 08:02PM

Brenda Murphy is currently reading

Cat Among the Pigeons (Hercule Poirot, #36)

by Agatha Christie

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Oct 30, 2021 08:43PM

Brenda’s Recent Updates

Brenda Murphy wants to read Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 11, 2026 11:26AM · like
Brenda Murphy rated a book it was amazing The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 03, 2026 02:01PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Correspondent by Virginia Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy is currently reading Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 10, 2026 08:49AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy rated a book it was amazing The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 07, 2026 07:08PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy entered a giveaway The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 12:57PM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy rated a book it was amazing Listening Valley by D.E. Stevenson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 16, 2026 01:27AM · 1 like · like
Brenda Murphy has read Green Money by D.E. Stevenson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 06, 2026 09:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Green Money by D.E. Stevenson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Green Money by D.E. Stevenson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy rated a book really liked it Music in the Hills (Dering Family #2) by D.E. Stevenson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 05:17AM · like
Brenda Murphy rated a book it was amazing Andy Warhol's Mother: The Woman Behind the Artist (Russian and East European Studies) by Elaine Rusinko	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fascinating account not only of Julia Warhola and her relationship with her son Andy, but of the Rusyn people and their immigrant experience in the US.
Oct 27, 2025 01:33AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Andy Warhol's Mother by Elaine Rusinko. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Andy Warhol's Mother by Elaine Rusinko <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brenda Murphy wants to read Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 27, 2025 01:31AM · like

More of Brenda's books…

Quotes by Brenda Murphy (?)

“Sarah lifted her eyes, her brow furrowed, her gaze dark in the mirror.”
― Brenda Murphy

tags: sum-of-the-whole

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“Her mother had understood her need to draw and create, but her mother had been gone five years by then and her father had no patience for such things.”
― Brenda Murphy

tags: the-sum-of-the-whole

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
NineStar Press: September 26, 2016	1	9	Sep 19, 2016 10:05AM
The Lost Challenges: A Tribute To Anne Rice	58	56	Sep 20, 2022 06:42AM

Brenda’s Quotes

“It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there.”
― William Carlos Williams, Asphodel, That Greeny Flower & Other Love Poems

tags: poetry

242 likes