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Marion Cleland Lochhead

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Marion Cleland Lochhead

Born19 April 1902
Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Died19 January 1985
Edinburgh
OccupationWriter and Social Historian
NationalityScottish
EducationUniversity of Glasgow

Marion Cleland Lochhead MBE (19 April 1902 - 19 January 1985) was a Scottish writer and social historian.[1] Her works span historiography and biography, poetry and fiction, children's writing, journalism, and broadcasting.[2]

Early life and career

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Marion Lochhead was born 19 April 1902 in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, the daughter of Helen Watt and Alexander Lochhead, a draper and clothier.[1]

In 1923, she graduated in English Literature and Latin (MA) from the University of Glasgow.[1] Initially, Lochhead worked as a schoolteacher, turning to poetry and writing in the 1920s.[1][2] Lochhead said 'I began as a poet, with an increasing interest in biography and social and domestic history'.[3]

Her strong Christian beliefs are often reflected in her works.[1][2]

Literary associations

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Lochhead is rarely associated with the Scottish Renaissance, though she was an active member of Edinburgh's literary scene in her younger years.[2]

In 1927, Lochhead co-founded the Scottish PEN (association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists), along with writers including Hugh MacDiarmid and Helen B. Cruickshank.[4]

Journalism

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From the 1930s, Lochhead was a key contributor to the Scottish press, publishing in titles including The Scotsman, Glasgow Herald, Scottish Home and Country, Scottish Field, Weekend Scotsman, Quarterly Review and Blackwood's Magazine.[2]

In her later life, she gave interviews on BBC Radio Scotland.[2]

Recognition

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In 1955, Lochhead was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL).[1][2]

In 1963, she was awarded an MBE.[1][2]

Notable works

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Poetry collections

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  • Poems (1928).
  • Painted Things (1929).
  • Feast of Candlemas and Other Devotional Poems (1937).
  • Fiddler's Bidding (1939).

Novels

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Historical Texts

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Biographies

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Children's Literature

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  • On Tintock Tap (1946).
  • The Other Country: Legends and Fairytales of Scotland (1978).
  • Scottish Tales of Magic and Mystery (1978).
  • The Battle of the Birds: And Other Celtic Tales (1981).
  • Magic and Witchcraft of the Borders (1984).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ewan, Elizabeth L.; Innes, Sue; Reynolds, Sian; Pipes, Rose (27 June 2007). Biographical Dictionary of ScottishWomen. Edinburgh University Press. p. 208. ISBN 9780748626601.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "About Marion Lochhead". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Literary Biography Series - Gale - PRO-0000000371". www.cengage.com. 1981. p. 289. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  4. ^ Crawford, Robert (30 January 2009). Scotland's Books: A History of Scottish Literature. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 570. ISBN 9780195386233.