Neil Munro (writer)
Neil Munro (3 June 1863 – 22 December 1930)
Life
Munro was born in Inveraray, the illegitimate son of Ann Munro, a kitchen maid. His death certificate gives his father's name as James Thompson Munro. He was brought up by his maternal grandparents and an aunt. He attended Glencaddie Primary School and Church Square Public School, leaving at 14. For five years he worked in the office of the Sheriff Clerk of Argyll, a fairly prestigious post that has led to speculation that he may have had undisclosed family connections.[2][4]
He then moved to Glasgow and worked briefly in the cashier's office in an ironmonger's shop in the Trongate before working as a journalist on the Greenock Advertiser, the Glasgow News, the Falkirk Herald and the Glasgow Evening News. He semi-retired from journalism in 1902 to concentrate on other writing. His play Macpherson, deploying his popular comic character, Erchie MacPherson, was staged by the Glasgow Repertory Theatre in 1909, and was well received.[5] In 1914 he returned to journalism, becoming editor of the Glasgow Evening News in 1918.[2][4]
Munro published several novels under his own name. Initially he had some success writing historical novels, most of them set in the
He then concentrated on journalism again, but his work was affected by his poor health and the death of his son Hugh in the First World War.[4] In October 1930 he received an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh.[6] He died in Craigendoran, Helensburgh, on 22 December 1930 at age 67.[7] A private funeral was held in Inverary and a memorial service held at Glasgow Cathedral.[8]
John Buchan subsequently edited The Poetry of Neil Munro, published in 1931.[9]
Obituaries for Munro commonly described him as the successor of
References
- ^ Munro claimed to have been born in 1864, and this incorrect date appears in a number of sources.
- ^ a b c d Brian Osborne and Ronald Armstrong, Introduction to "Para Handy: The Complete Edition"
- ISBN 1-899863-91-5.
- ^ a b c Renton, Ronnie (1999). "The Official Site of the Neil Munro Society - Author of Para Handy".
- ISBN 9781841582023
- The Glasgow Herald. 27 October 1930. p. 12. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ "Death of Mr Neil Munro, LL.D. Distinguished Scottish Writer. The Highlander in literature". The Glasgow Herald. 23 December 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ "Dr Neil Munro. Funeral at Inverary. Burial in Kilmalieu of the Tombs". The Glasgow Herald. 26 December 1930. p. 11. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ "Neil Munro". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
External links
- BBC - Writing Scotland - Tartan Myths - Neil Munro
- Works by Neil Munro at Project Gutenberg
- Works by Neil Munro at Faded Page (Canada)
- Works by or about Neil Munro at Internet Archive
- Works by Neil Munro at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
- article on him and his historical fiction
- Neil Munro at IMDb