Ngaio Marsh
˜ HER LIFE IN CRIME ˜
Joanne Drayton
For Suzanne Vincent Marshall
in memory of my fatherMalcolm Drayton(1933-2007)
and sincerest thanks to the staff ofAlexander Turnbull Libraryand National Library of New Zealand
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE A Cradle in a Grave
CHAPTER TWO The Theatre of Death
CHAPTER THREE Companions in Crime
CHAPTER FIVE A Stage Set for Tragedy
CHAPTER SIX The Marsh Million Murders
CHAPTER SEVEN Doyenne and Dame
| 1895 | Born 23 April, Christchurch, New Zealand (birth not registered until 1899). |
| 1910-14 | Secondary education at St Margaret’s College. |
| 1915-19 | Studied painting at Canterbury College School of Art, Christchurch. |
| 1920-22 | Toured with the Allan Wilkie Shakespeare Company and then with the Rosemary Rees Comedy Company. |
| 1922-28 | Painted, freelance journalist and began working with repertory companies and Unlimited Charities to produce amateur theatrical productions. |
| 1928 | Travelled to England. |
| 1928-32 | Lived with the Rhodes family first at Gerrards Cross, then in London. Wrote articles for the Christchurch Press under the title ‘New Canterbury Pilgrim’ and opened a design shop with Nelly Rhodes in Knightsbridge. |
| 1931-32 | Wrote first detective fiction novel, which was submitted to literary agent just before being called back to her mother’s sickbed in New Zealand. Rose Marsh died 23 November 1932. |
| 1932-37 | Established herself as one of the four Queens of Crime; exhibited paintings with the Christchurch Society of Arts and The Group; and produced plays. |
| 1937-38 | Trip to Britain and tour of Europe with Betty Cotterill and Jean Webster. |
| 1938 | Returned to New Zealand and became a Red Cross ambulance driver during the war. |
| 1943 | Directed Shakespeare’s Hamlet for the Canterbury University College Drama Society. |
| 1944-45 | Toured New Zealand with Hamlet and Othello under the aegis of Dan O’Connor. |
| 1948 | Awarded OBE for services to drama and literature. Henry Marsh died 4 September. |
| 1949 | Toured Australia with Six Characters and Othello under the aegis of Dan O’Connor. |
| 1949-51 | Trip to England. Collins threw ‘Marsh Million’ party to celebrate the release of her books. Gathered a company for the British Commonwealth Theatre Company tour, which toured Australia and New Zealand before disbanding. |
| 1952-54 | Writing and directing in Christchurch. |
| 1954-56 | Travelled to England on board the cargo ship Temeraire, which was the inspiration for Singing in the Shrouds. |
| 1956-60 | Writing and directing in Christchurch. |
| 1960-61 | Promotional tour of East Asia, North America and Britain, and lived for over a year in London. |
| 1962-65 |
Wrote
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