Literature is a realm that allows creative and talented individuals to realize their potential.
Iedinburgh tells you more.
It doesn’t really matter where these individuals work. As experience shows, a person can be employed in a field entirely unrelated to creativity and still manage to produce truly remarkable literary works.
Bruce Marshall is remembered in literary circles as a gifted author who created both fiction and non-fiction works.
However, not everyone knows that his original profession was far from creative. Yet this didn’t stop him from becoming a well-known author and ultimately choosing this path in life.
Early Years
The future writer was born on June 24, 1899, in Edinburgh.
When the First World War broke out, Bruce served with the Highland Light Infantry.
In 1918, he was appointed second lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles, later transferring to the 34th Battalion of the London Regiment.
Injury
Also in 1918, Bruce sustained a serious injury resulting in the amputation of one leg.
In 1919, Marshall was promoted to lieutenant.
Education and Career
After the war ended, Bruce graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a bachelor’s degree. Following graduation, he began working as an auditor. He started building his career in France, joining the Paris office of Peat Marwick Mitchell.
Back in the Army
When France was invaded in 1940, Bruce managed to escape just before Nazi forces occupied Paris, where he had been living. Upon returning home, Marshall rejoined the army, initially serving in the Royal Army Pay Corps.
Due to his support for the French Resistance, he was promoted to captain. Later, he transferred to the Displaced Persons Division in Austria, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Returning to France
Once the war was over, Bruce moved back to France, settling on the Côte d’Azur, where he lived until his death.
Literary Career
Speaking of Bruce’s literary activities, it’s worth mentioning that he wrote stories characterized by humour and satire. Many of his works also had religious undertones.
Marshall’s works typically explored themes related to Catholicism, adventure, intrigue, war, and accounting.
Interestingly, his main characters were often accountants or priests.
A Distinctive Trait
Another distinct feature of Bruce’s stories is that his characters often display a strong affection for animals. They frequently also show disdain toward areas such as modern art and contemporary literature.
Literary Debut
Marshall’s first published literary work was the short story collection A Thief in the Night. Remarkably, it was published while the author was still attending university.
His debut novel, This Sorry Scheme, was published in 1924.
Important Work
Bruce authored several more novels, but none of those written before the Second World War achieved as much fame as Father Malachy’s Miracle. This book tells the story of a Scottish priest confronted with sinful behaviour, which ultimately leads him to experience a genuine miracle.
A Final Decision
After World War II ended, Bruce decided to devote his professional life entirely to literature. Thus, he left his accounting career behind, even though he had previously successfully combined it with writing. He liked to describe himself as “an accountant who writes books.”
A Popular Book
Marshall’s most famous postwar work is unquestionably The White Rabbit. The book is a biography of Wing Commander Yeo-Thomas, detailing his wartime exploits, accomplishments, and suffering.