Brief Memoir of the Life and Writings of the Late William Marsden;

by William Marsden

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302 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2015

About the author

At sixteen, William Percival Marsden followed his brother's example and obtained a civil service appointment with the East India Company in Sumatra. He was promoted to the position of Principal Secretary to the Government, and acquired a knowledge of the Malay language and country. On returning to England, Marsden wrote his History of Sumatra (1783). He served as Second, then First Secretary to the Admiralty and continued the private study of oriental languages, publishing Grammar and Dictionary of the Malay Language in 1812 and a translation of the Travels of Marco Polo in 1818. Marsden was a member of many learned societies, and was Treasurer and Vice-President of the Royal Society.

This William Marsden is different than William Edward Marsden, W.E. Marsden, and Bill Marsden.

Reviews

[Jill N · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father (the author) wrote this book initially as a footprint of his history for his family. The beginning of the book is about his ancestors and where they came from - humble, English beginnings in a tiny village in the UK. It then points to the ones who were sent to Australia on a voyage that would eventually lead to the family at this point in time in the twentieth century. He doesn't dwell too long on our history but, for family, this will be a valuable tool for future generations, I think.

Bill Marsden was a good story-teller, keeping things real all the way through his book. Although he had every right to boast of his success in the television industry in Australia, he never did. He was a humble gentleman who always seemed amazed at how far he'd come. As General Manager of Riverina Television Ltd and chairman of the board of directors, I'm informed by his colleagues that he was always ready to listen to staff, have a conversation or take on a challenge. His book reflects some of these challenges, but it's not all about his work-life. That was the nature of this man. He was not all about work, and not all about family. He got the balance right and I hope the reader enjoys the flow of his conversation in his autobiography.

Vale Bill Marsden 1924-2015