I lived from 1871-1934.
I was from Scotland, and am in the English category.
After an uneventful school career at Kelvinside Academy and at Morrison's Academy he studied Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Bell began to write verse while a student and, in 1896, became editor of Glasgow University Magazine.
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On leaving University he opted for a career in journalism and joined the staff of the Glasgow Evening Times where he wrote under the by-line of J J Bell. In 1898 he became sub-editor of the Scots Pictorial. As well as the normal reporting he became known for his articles on the working class life of the everyday Glaswegians. These were often written in the local vernacular which helped to endear him to his readers. One stock character he introduced into these articles was a street urchin with the nickname Wee MacGregor. These articles became so popular that they were expanded to produce several books. Later they were made into moderately successful films.
Though highly acclaimed in his native Scotland he was thought to be overly sentimal by the leading critics of the day. However it was agreed that his vernacular writing gave an authentic flavour to his writing and was an accurate reflection of the reality of Glasgow life at that time. Nowadays his work is largely forgotten even in his own City.
Publications
Novels
A KINGDOM OF DREAMS
Short Stories
Wee Mcgreegor 1902
Wee Macgreegor again
Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart
Wee MacGregor Enlists 1915
Till The Clock Stops
Mistress McLeerie
Beyond London Lights
Poetry
Cyde Songs and other Verses
Plays
Good Morning, Sir John!
Mr. Pennycook's boy
Sources
Thanks to "The Glasgow Story" for the basic facts
And the Mitchell Library for permission to use the photograph
Jim Saville
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My poetry
I've never traveled for more'n a day,
I never was one to roam,
47 lines, 1 comment
Leaving home or going home - they're all the same to me -
My business is with any folk that have to cross the sea.
28 lines
For many years I've watched the ships a-sailing to and fro,
The mighty ships, the little ships, the speedy and the slow:
28 lines, 2 comments
For I sometimes thinks as I really had
A vision o' Judgment Day.
72 lines, 1 comment
A rare good life I've surely had
In fifty year at sea;
60 lines
"Nearly home, nearly home!" says the screw that whips the foam,
And the engine is a-throbbing like a heart,
25 lines
I’d rather be a cyclist
Than any other beast,
13 lines, 1 comment
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