Helen Fielding (1) (1958–)
Author of Bridget Jones's Diary
For other authors named Helen Fielding, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Helen Fielding was born in Morley, West Yorkshire, England on February 19, 1958. She studied English at Oxford University. After college, she got a job working for the BBC television studios. She worked for numerous years as a newspaper and TV journalist. Her first book, Cause Celeb, was based on show more the experiences she had while filming documentaries in Africa for Comic Relief. Her other books include Bridget Jones's Diary, The Edge of Reason, Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination, Mad about the Boy, and Bridget Jones's Baby. She co-wrote the screenplays for the movies Bridget Jones's Diary and the sequel based on The Edge of Reason. She has received several awards including British Book of the Year in 1997 and the Evening Standard Award Best Screenplay in 2002. She works as a full-time novelist and screenwriter. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Helen Fielding at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on January 29, 2025 in London, England
Series
Works by Helen Fielding
New Beginnings: New Writing from Bestselling Authors Sold in Aid of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Earthquake Charities (2005) — Introduction — 48 copies
Bridget Jones's Diary / Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason / Bridget Jones's Guide to Life (2001) 17 copies
Luckybitch [short story] 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1958-02-19
- Gender
- female
- Education
- St. Anne's College, Oxford
- Occupations
- novelist
journalist
screenwriter
television researcher - Organizations
- BBC
The Independent - Agent
- Gillon Aitken Associates
- Relationships
- Curran, Kevin (boyfriend)
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Morley, West Yorkshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Morley, West Yorkshire, England, UK
London, Middlesex, England, UK - Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
This is my favourite of the three Bridget Jones books. This book made me entirely happy to read and had a fantastic plot line.
Her experience on shrooms--just yes. Because it's completely normal to go to Thailand and have a shroom omelette. Just yes. All my yeses. Her thoughts afterwards and Shazz's description of how she acted were just all so hilariously accurate.
Also, the fact that she lets Gary the builder make a hole in her apartment and just leave it for a few weeks? So great. She's so show more gullible and it's absolutely endearing. And there was that time she was crawling in the dumpster in underwear and a jacket. And then her ex shows up. And then her other ex shows up.
I'm generally not much of a fan of diary type books that try to tackle complex plots, but Bridget being detained in Thailand for drug trafficking just seemed to fit in all to perfectly. Of all people, this would happen to her.
Mark Darcy is definitely the subtle star of this book and though it may have been a little predictable, I thought their relationship was really well written and had just the right amount of prominence. This is more women's fiction than romance, but romance definitely played a big role.
Bridget's obsession with self-help books isn't something I can relate to at at all but it played another hilarious role and it was intriguing to see the 'lessons' she and her friends thought they learned and how they applied to reality.
Bridget's friend Jude and her significant other, Vile Richard, had an interesting subplot weaving through that provided a really good foil to Bridget's relationship with Mark. Rebecca's character made me angry and made me squirm, because to me Bridget felt like a real friend.
Oh, and even buying condoms is an experience in Bridget Jones's world. I loved this book so much! From its hilarity to its ability to turn the most normal situation odd, this was gold. show less
Her experience on shrooms--just yes. Because it's completely normal to go to Thailand and have a shroom omelette. Just yes. All my yeses. Her thoughts afterwards and Shazz's description of how she acted were just all so hilariously accurate.
Also, the fact that she lets Gary the builder make a hole in her apartment and just leave it for a few weeks? So great. She's so show more gullible and it's absolutely endearing. And there was that time she was crawling in the dumpster in underwear and a jacket. And then her ex shows up. And then her other ex shows up.
I'm generally not much of a fan of diary type books that try to tackle complex plots, but Bridget being detained in Thailand for drug trafficking just seemed to fit in all to perfectly. Of all people, this would happen to her.
Mark Darcy is definitely the subtle star of this book and though it may have been a little predictable, I thought their relationship was really well written and had just the right amount of prominence. This is more women's fiction than romance, but romance definitely played a big role.
Bridget's obsession with self-help books isn't something I can relate to at at all but it played another hilarious role and it was intriguing to see the 'lessons' she and her friends thought they learned and how they applied to reality.
Bridget's friend Jude and her significant other, Vile Richard, had an interesting subplot weaving through that provided a really good foil to Bridget's relationship with Mark. Rebecca's character made me angry and made me squirm, because to me Bridget felt like a real friend.
Oh, and even buying condoms is an experience in Bridget Jones's world. I loved this book so much! From its hilarity to its ability to turn the most normal situation odd, this was gold. show less
No. of days this took me to read: Way too many No. of seconds I've spent writing this review: Idk,forgot to count No. of times I've started reviews this way: 0 until now
Sometimes I really wanna shake Bridget by the shoulders and tell her to think straight, go say what you feel, why must you do that, quit it! But in the end, she figures it out for herself without my saying anything at all. Given she's a book character, I don't think she'd listen or hear me to begin with anyway.
The first show more book was funny, not what I'm used to, but definitely enjoyable. This one was great at first, then I started reading other things and I put it off *(around the time Bridget's man problems started again btw)* and finally got back to it just now to finish it off.
Drugdealers, African tribes, weddings....what could possibly go wrong? .....everything.
Everything you never imagined would happen to Bridget Jones, did....
And still, she came back from it, funnier than ever.
I'm thrilled with how this book turned out and I just might read it again. Colin Firth Interview was definitely pleasing. Now I must wait for the rumored 3rd book.....14 years in the making. I'm glad I wasn't one of the first readers or I'd be kinda impatient at this point. show less
Sometimes I really wanna shake Bridget by the shoulders and tell her to think straight, go say what you feel, why must you do that, quit it! But in the end, she figures it out for herself without my saying anything at all. Given she's a book character, I don't think she'd listen or hear me to begin with anyway.
The first show more book was funny, not what I'm used to, but definitely enjoyable. This one was great at first, then I started reading other things and I put it off *(around the time Bridget's man problems started again btw)* and finally got back to it just now to finish it off.
Drugdealers, African tribes, weddings....what could possibly go wrong? .....everything.
Everything you never imagined would happen to Bridget Jones, did....
And still, she came back from it, funnier than ever.
I'm thrilled with how this book turned out and I just might read it again. Colin Firth Interview was definitely pleasing. Now I must wait for the rumored 3rd book.....14 years in the making. I'm glad I wasn't one of the first readers or I'd be kinda impatient at this point. show less
Bridget Jones's Diary: the smash-hit from the original singleton (Bridget Jones's Diary, 1) (Picador Collection) by Helen Fielding
I remember reading my mother's paperback copy of Bridget Jones' Diary when I was at school and being amused while also too young to understand Bridget's lifestyle. Well, now I'm considerably older but with the same vague amusement and lack of comprehension. BJD is the ur-text of chick lit, complete with opposing love interests, gay best friend ('homosexuals and single women in their thirties have natural bonding: both being accustomed to disappointing their parents and being treated as show more freaks by society') and embarrassing mother, and her life is suitably pathetic and madcap in equal measure, but she hasn't aged well, destroying her lungs and liver one diary entry at a time.
In fact, the best way to read this once groundbreaking novel now is as historical fiction - the 90s references are hilarious! The lucky few have 'portable phones', Bridget has to compile her own 'mood playlist' on tape, and the author devotes nearly a whole page to explaining how 1471 works! I might have to read the sequels just to drag Bridget into the age of mobiles and Spotify.
I'm also glad that the film, from what I can remember, changed the story and characters in key moments - Daniel and Mark fighting over Bridget is better than the subplot straight from a 1970s sitcom of Bridget's mother running away with a Portuguese lothario and stealing money for a fake timeshare. In fact, the ending of the novel seemed rather rushed, but of course I appreciate the spin on Pride and Prejudice. As a modern day Elizabeth, Bridget wasn't given enough time to develop feelings for either 'Wickham' or Darcy and there wasn't much about her that would win over any man. Then again, weighing in at 9 stone odd would hardly make any woman class as fat either, unless they are struggling to clear 5 foot in height.
Ah, the 90s! show less
In fact, the best way to read this once groundbreaking novel now is as historical fiction - the 90s references are hilarious! The lucky few have 'portable phones', Bridget has to compile her own 'mood playlist' on tape, and the author devotes nearly a whole page to explaining how 1471 works! I might have to read the sequels just to drag Bridget into the age of mobiles and Spotify.
I'm also glad that the film, from what I can remember, changed the story and characters in key moments - Daniel and Mark fighting over Bridget is better than the subplot straight from a 1970s sitcom of Bridget's mother running away with a Portuguese lothario and stealing money for a fake timeshare. In fact, the ending of the novel seemed rather rushed, but of course I appreciate the spin on Pride and Prejudice. As a modern day Elizabeth, Bridget wasn't given enough time to develop feelings for either 'Wickham' or Darcy and there wasn't much about her that would win over any man. Then again, weighing in at 9 stone odd would hardly make any woman class as fat either, unless they are struggling to clear 5 foot in height.
Ah, the 90s! show less
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read this when I was a teenager, it must have been when the film came out on home release around 2001-2 because I distinctly remember the copy I had came in a box set with the VHS of the movie! By that working out I would have been about 14!
I remember enjoying it then, and I don’t think I got anything more out of it for being closer to Bridget’s age now (actually, I’m older now, I think she’s 34 in this one). I show more think even at 14, I thought Bridget was immature and her obsession with calories and smoking so many cigarettes was ridiculous!
I still found it to be a very enjoyable and easy read! Bridget – for her many flaws – is an endearing character, and it’s amazing how much personality Fielding is able to get through for the supporting characters within the limits of the diary format. Especially for Daniel Cleaver, Perpetua and Bridget’s ridiculous mother, Pam.
There are many things about the book (and the movie) that are very dated now! The casual counting, cigarettes, friends actually speaking on the telephone, which is also a landline (including using 1471!), and a whole section where Bridget can’t work out how to record the telly on her VHS player! The stereotyping of Bridget’s gay friend Tom is also very 2000s, including the use of the word “poof.”
Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy are both still very charming in their different ways. Having so recently rewatched Pride & Prejudice (1995 BBC adaptation), the story parallels were fresh in my mind! There is even a bit where Bridget watches it and talks about her love for Colin Firth, and his real-life relationship with Jennifer Ehle!
I enjoyed it immensely, but I do always seem to end the story (and the movie) wondering quite what Mark Darcy sees in Bridget… He’s obviously wonderful, but they never communicate very well, and their connection doesn’t quite come through for me.
Quotes
Relatable, this was ages 27 to 32 for me! Page 102.
A true blast from the past, especially funny as apparently nobody know Bridget knows is able to figure this out! Page 109
I had hoped we’d moved past this kind of thinking in 2025, but I think we’re about to have a cultural regression now all the celebrities are stick thin again. Depressing. Page 178.
Loved! Page 190
# REVIEW SUMMARY
## I LIKED
- Bridget is endearing and funny.
- Side characters are wonderful and leap off the page – especially her mother, Una Alconbury, and Daniel.
- It is a grown-up love story, even if Briget is immature at times, and miscommunication is cleared up quickly when it happens.
- Very light, easy breezy reading!
# I DIDN’T LIKE
- I do think Bridget and Mark lack chemistry. (But I may just be jealous!)
View all my reviews show less
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read this when I was a teenager, it must have been when the film came out on home release around 2001-2 because I distinctly remember the copy I had came in a box set with the VHS of the movie! By that working out I would have been about 14!
I remember enjoying it then, and I don’t think I got anything more out of it for being closer to Bridget’s age now (actually, I’m older now, I think she’s 34 in this one). I show more think even at 14, I thought Bridget was immature and her obsession with calories and smoking so many cigarettes was ridiculous!
I still found it to be a very enjoyable and easy read! Bridget – for her many flaws – is an endearing character, and it’s amazing how much personality Fielding is able to get through for the supporting characters within the limits of the diary format. Especially for Daniel Cleaver, Perpetua and Bridget’s ridiculous mother, Pam.
There are many things about the book (and the movie) that are very dated now! The casual counting, cigarettes, friends actually speaking on the telephone, which is also a landline (including using 1471!), and a whole section where Bridget can’t work out how to record the telly on her VHS player! The stereotyping of Bridget’s gay friend Tom is also very 2000s, including the use of the word “poof.”
Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy are both still very charming in their different ways. Having so recently rewatched Pride & Prejudice (1995 BBC adaptation), the story parallels were fresh in my mind! There is even a bit where Bridget watches it and talks about her love for Colin Firth, and his real-life relationship with Jennifer Ehle!
I enjoyed it immensely, but I do always seem to end the story (and the movie) wondering quite what Mark Darcy sees in Bridget… He’s obviously wonderful, but they never communicate very well, and their connection doesn’t quite come through for me.
Quotes
You completely forget the fact that when you were twenty-two and you didn’t have boyfriend or meet anyone you remotely fancied for twenty-three months you just thought it was a bit of a drag. The whole thing builds up out of all proportion, so finding a relationship seems a dazzling, almost insurmountable goal, and when you do start going out with someone it cannot possibly live up to expectations.
Relatable, this was ages 27 to 32 for me! Page 102.
8.55 p.m. Decide to ignore that page. Turn to ‘Timer-controlled recordings with VideoPlus’: ‘1. Meet the requirements for VideoPlus.’ What requirements? Hate the stupid video. Feel exactly the same as feel when trying to follow signposts on roads. Know in heart that signposts and video manual do not make sense but still cannot believe authorities would be so cruel as to deliberately dupe us all. Feel incompetent fool and as if everyone else in world understands something which is being kept from me.
A true blast from the past, especially funny as apparently nobody know Bridget knows is able to figure this out! Page 109
I realized that I have spent so many years being on a diet that the idea that you might actually need calories to survive has been completely wiped out of my consciousness. Have reached point where believe nutritional ideal is to eat nothing at all, and that the only reason people eat is because they are so greedy they cannot stop themselves from breaking out and ruining their diets.
I had hoped we’d moved past this kind of thinking in 2025, but I think we’re about to have a cultural regression now all the celebrities are stick thin again. Depressing. Page 178.
It struck me as pretty ridiculous to be called Mr Darcy and to stand on your own looking snooty at a party. It’s like being called Heathcliff and insisting on spending the entire evening in the garden, shouting ‘Cathy’ and banging your head against a tree.
Loved! Page 190
# REVIEW SUMMARY
## I LIKED
- Bridget is endearing and funny.
- Side characters are wonderful and leap off the page – especially her mother, Una Alconbury, and Daniel.
- It is a grown-up love story, even if Briget is immature at times, and miscommunication is cleared up quickly when it happens.
- Very light, easy breezy reading!
# I DIDN’T LIKE
- I do think Bridget and Mark lack chemistry. (But I may just be jealous!)
View all my reviews show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 20
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 32,852
- Popularity
- #589
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 588
- ISBNs
- 581
- Languages
- 29
- Favorited
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