Marshall, Alan (1902-1984), an Australian author, became known for his short stories. These stories, many concerned with everyday life, are realistic, optimistic, and often humorous. The Complete Short Stories of Alan Marshall was published in 1977. His other books include These Are My People (1944), an account of a journey through Victoria in a horse-drawn wagon; How Beautiful Are Thy Feet (1949), a novel; and People of the Dreamtime (1952), a selection of Aboriginal myths. Marshall also wrote children’s books, newspaper sketches, and travels articles.
Marshall was born on May 2, 1902, in Noorat, Victoria. At the age of 6, he was disabled by polio. He worked as an accountant for a Melbourne shoe company, writing in his spare time. After the shoe company closed in 1935, Marshall turned to freelance writing as a career. For many years, he contributed sketches and columns to Australian newspapers and magazines. Marshall first gained widespread notice as a writer with the publication of I Can Jump Puddles (1955), the first of his three volumes of autobiography. The other two volumes are This Is the Grass (1962) and In Mine Own Heart (1963). Marshall died on Jan. 21, 1984.
