Janet McNeill (14 September 1907 â€" October 1994)[1] was a prolific
Irish novelist and playwright. Author of more than 20 children's
books,[2] as well as adult novels, plays, and two opera libretti, she
was best known for her children's comic fantasy series My Friend Specs
McCann.[3]Janet McNeill was born on 14 September 1907 in Dublin to
Rev. William McNeill, a minister at Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church,
and Jeannie Patterson (Hogg) McNeill.[1][4][5] In 1913 the family
moved to Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, where her father became
minister at Trinity Road Church. McNeill attended public school in
Birkenhead and studied classics at the University of St Andrews,
completing a MA degree in 1929.[5][1] While in university, she was
involved in writing and acting with the College Players. In 1924 the
family returned to Ireland due to her father's failing health, and
Rev. McNeill became the minister of a village church in Rostrevor,
County Down, Northern Ireland[5] while Janet joined the Belfast
Telegraph as a secretary.[5]In 1933 she married Robert Alexander, the
chief engineer in the Belfast city surveyor's department,[5][1] and
the couple settled in Lisburn, where they raised their four sons.[6]
Though she planned to write her first novel early on, McNeill found it
impossible to write seriously until the children grew up, saying: "It
was four years before I had a baby and twenty five before I produced
the book".[7]
Irish novelist and playwright. Author of more than 20 children's
books,[2] as well as adult novels, plays, and two opera libretti, she
was best known for her children's comic fantasy series My Friend Specs
McCann.[3]Janet McNeill was born on 14 September 1907 in Dublin to
Rev. William McNeill, a minister at Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church,
and Jeannie Patterson (Hogg) McNeill.[1][4][5] In 1913 the family
moved to Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, where her father became
minister at Trinity Road Church. McNeill attended public school in
Birkenhead and studied classics at the University of St Andrews,
completing a MA degree in 1929.[5][1] While in university, she was
involved in writing and acting with the College Players. In 1924 the
family returned to Ireland due to her father's failing health, and
Rev. McNeill became the minister of a village church in Rostrevor,
County Down, Northern Ireland[5] while Janet joined the Belfast
Telegraph as a secretary.[5]In 1933 she married Robert Alexander, the
chief engineer in the Belfast city surveyor's department,[5][1] and
the couple settled in Lisburn, where they raised their four sons.[6]
Though she planned to write her first novel early on, McNeill found it
impossible to write seriously until the children grew up, saying: "It
was four years before I had a baby and twenty five before I produced
the book".[7]
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.