William Marshall
William Marshall was an Australian author born in Sydney in 1944, who became known for his engaging mystery novels. He graduated from Fort Street Boys' High School and later attended the Australian National University. Prior to his writing career, Marshall held various positions, including proofreader and prison teacher, and traveled extensively in pursuit of his literary ambitions. His breakthrough came in 1975 with the publication of "Yellowthread Street," a novel that blended broad comedy with hard-boiled noir, set in the vibrant and claustrophobic atmosphere of Hong Kong. This book marked the beginning of a popular series featuring Harry Feiffer, the chief inspector at the Yellowthread Street police station, and was notable for its bizarre plots and rapid pacing. Despite later exploring other settings for his mysteries, Marshall's fans continued to gravitate towards the Yellowthread series, which ultimately encompassed fifteen books. He passed away in Australia in 2004, leaving behind a legacy that captures the essence of Hong Kong through his unique storytelling.
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Subject Terms
William Marshall
Fiction Writer
- Born: 1944
- Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Died: 2004
- Place of death: Australia
Biography
William Marshall was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1944. He graduated from the Fort Street Boys’ High School and went on to Australian National University in Canberra. Marshall held a variety of jobs before he became a writer, including proofreader, morgue attendant, and prison teacher. He traveled extensively throughout the world while trying to complete a novel.
Beginning in 1969, Marshall published three mainstream books before publishing a mystery, Yellowthread Street, in 1975. The book was well received by readers and sparked the Yellowthread Street series. Part broad comedy and part hard- boiled noir, the Yellowthread books take place in claustrophobic Hong Kong and feature the exploits of Harry Feiffer, chief inspector of the Yellowthread Street police station. Marshall had traveled to Hong Kong regularly and his books capture the character of the city. The plots are bizarre and the pacing is at breakneck speed from the first page to the last. Marshall said he had grown tired of the Yellowthread books and wrote other mysteries set in the Philippines or historical New York City. However, his fans continued to prefer the Yellowthread Street series and he eventually wrote fifteen books about Hong Kong and Feiffer. Marshall died in Australia in 2004.