Alan Marshall

Alan Marshall (2 May 1902, Noorat, Victoria — 21 January 1984, Melbourne) was an Australian writer, story teller and social documenter.

His best known book, "I Can Jump Puddles" (1955) is the first of a three-part autobiography. The other two books are "This is the Grass" (1962) and "In Mine Own Heart" (1963).

When Marshall was six years old he contracted polio leaving him with a physical disability that grew worse as he grew older. From an early age, he resolved to be a writer, and in "I Can Jump Puddles" he demonstrated an almost total recall of his childhood in Noorat. The characters and places of his book are thinly disguised from real life: "Mount Turalla" is Mount Noorat, "Lake Turalla" is Lake Keilambete, the "Curruthers" are the "Blacks", and his best friend, "Joe" from the books, is Leo Carmody.

Australian poet and contemporary, Hal Porter wrote in 1965 that Alan Marshall is:

"... the warmest and most centralized human being ... To walk with ease and nonchalance the straight, straight line between appearing tragic and appearing willfully brave is a feat so complex I should not like to have to rake in the dark for the super-bravery to accomplish it." [Porter (1965) p. 38]

Alan Marshall wrote numerous short stories, mainly set in the bush. He also wrote newspaper columns and magazine articles. He travelled widely in Australia and overseas. He also collected and published Indigenous Australian stories and legends.

Television series

In 1981 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation produced a nine part mini-series of Marshall's autobiographical stories.cite web |title= "I can jump puddles" (1981) |publisher= Australian Screen |url= http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/i-can-jump-puddles/ |accessdate= 2008-02-13] The actor, Adam Garnett, won the 1982 Logie Awards for "Best Performance by a Juvenile", for his role as Alan Marshall in the series.

Recognition

In 1985 the Shire of Eltham, where Marshall had lived for many years,cite web |title= Alan Marshall Short Story Award - Background |publisher= Nillimbik Shire Council |url= http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=760&h=0 |accessdate= 2008-02-13] established the annual Alan Marshall Short Story Competition for emergent writers.cite web|title= 2008 Alan Marshall Short Story Award |publisher= Nillimbik Shire Council |url= http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=454&h=0 |accessdate= 2008-02-13]

Bibliography

Autobiography

* "I Can Jump Puddles". Melbourne: F. W. Cheshire, 1955.
* "This is the Grass". Melbourne: F. W. Cheshire, 1962. ISBN 058525654X
* "In Mine Own Heart". Melbourne: F. W. Cheshire, 1963.

Collections

* "Aboriginal Myths", with Sreten Bozic. Melbourne: Gold Star Publications, 1972. ISBN 0-7260-0113-9
* "Pull Down The Blind", with illustrations by Noel Counihan. Melbourne: F. W. Cheshire & London: Wadley & Ginn, 1949

Fiction

* "How Beautiful Are Thy Feet". Melbourne: Chesterhill Press, 1949. ISBN 0-14-005241-0

Children's Fiction

* "Whispering in the Wind". Thomas Nelson (Australia) Ltd, 1969. ISBN 0006705006

Notes

References

* Marks, Harry. "I Can Jump Oceans: The World of Alan Marshall". Melbourne: Thomas Nelson (Australia), 1976. ISBN 0-17-001977-2
* Porter, Hal. "Melbourne in the Thirties" in "London Magazine", 5(6): 31-47, September 1965.