Ngaio Marsh: A Life

by Margaret Lewis

A lovingly crafted biography of New Zealand Crimewriting Queen, Ngaio Marsh who, like Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, wrote detective fiction during mystery's goldn age. Ngaio Marsh wrote more than thirty polished English detective novels between 1934 and her death in 1982. How did she do it? To say would give away the story of her life, but those who have already met her elegant sleuth Roderick Alleyn know he, too, kept his footing in diverse plots, managing the local idiom whether crime cracking in Britain, on the continent, or in New Zealand. Marsh's talent was as varied as her heritage. A gifted artist, a spirited dramatist, actress, and producer, her crime fiction embraces her triple interests. May are set in the worlds of art and theater.

Genres: Biography, Mystery, Nonfiction

275 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 1992

Reviews

[Bayneeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

More detail than I wanted or needed. Marsh's passions for art and the theater are not surprising as they figure heavily in her mysteries. Eventually she wrote her mysteries to to support her true love of the theater. Born in New Zealand, she didn't visit England until she was over 30, but still considered it "home," and revisited it as often and as long as she could.

[Moira Mackinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a subject for a biography, Ngaio Marsh presents some almost insurmountable obstacles. Her life contained no moments of high drama, such as Agatha Christie's celebrated disappearance, and no great romance or even an illegitimate child like Dorothy L. Sayers, her fellow 'Crime Queens' of the Thirties. Despite this lack of drama, or perhaps because of it, Ngaio Marsh filled her life with drama of another kind. To the outside world she is best known for her detective novels featuring Roderick Alleyn, but to her native New Zealanders she is known for her work in theatre. For 30 years her work with student theatre in Christchurch was to mold generations of young New Zealand actors. Her one great passion was her love affair with William Shakespeare.

[Elizabeth Frey-Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far drier than I hoped it would be… lots of facts, but just really, really dry.

Love Marsh’s books. She seems like the kind of person who would be interesting to be around. This book just wasn’t as compelling as its subject.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the most interesting in terms of writing style, but I loved reading more about such a notable New Zealander, and now I really want to acquire and read all of her books.

[Samb Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine biography of a notable lady. This book does a fine job of explaining enough history about New Zealand to help one understand where and how she grew up, and goes into great detail about her career as a stage director. I was more interested in her writing career, creating the Inspector Alleyn mystery series, which is also covered and goes into detail about when she wrote each book and what it might have been inspired by in her own life. Interestingly enough, she didn't often reveal things about her personal life in her books, which is why she never felt confident about writing novels, but instead chose the Mystery/Detective genre. Her life was not the overly dramatic celebrity life that one often finds in biographies of the famous, as she was a rather down to earth person; so don't expect that kind of thing. I liked it.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing was not really to my taste and could have been better organized, but it did seem to be well researched and was about an author I appreciate so I stuck with it.