John Brodie (1905-1955)

Author John Brodie's biography The Man in Our Lives (1955) was an account of his father and family that Brodie considered his best book. It was originally published in 1946, but a valedictory edition was published after his death, under his real name instead of his pseudonym "John Guthrie". The following biographical details are taken from this book:

John Brodie was born [in Paeroa] and educated in New Zealand, [New Plymouth] and distinguished himself by winning his University Blue for Rugby at seventeen. He took his B.A. at Canterbury University College in 1925 and was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship. Owing to a Rugby injury, a long illness ended his athletic career and obliged him to abandon his plans for journalism. He devoted the following years to writing two novels about his country, The Little Country and So They Began, and also published a number of short stories. Following the amputation of a leg, he resumed journalism for the next three years. finding himself homeward bound from England, after a year's leave of absence, when the war broke out, John Brodie turned back to Britain and joined the Royal Air Force. He served with distinction as an expert on night fighter tactics as a Flight Lieutenant Controller.

After his demobilisation in this country [Britain], he edited Books of Today until joining the staff of World's Press News in 1950, where he remained until after another illness, when he went to George Newnes Ltd in 1954.

The war absorbed all his energies and he had no opportunity to write until 1946. Between that year and 1953 he published six new wooks; The Man in Our Lives, a Book Society recommendation, Journey by Twilight, Merry-Go-Round, Is This What I Wanted?, Paradise Bay and The Seekers, which was made into a film by the Rank Organisation [starring Jack Hawkins, Laya Raki and Inia Te Wiata].

The following year, at the age of 49, he returned to his native New Zealand with his wife. It was on the journey back to England in March 1955 that he died suddenly and was buried at sea off Cape Finisterre.

NB: John Brodie's sister Mary (1911-1999) married Russell Matthews (1896-1987), a local businessman, horticulturalist and philanthropist.

Bibliography

The Little Country Thomas Nelson, London (1935)

So They Began Thomas Nelson, London (1936)

The Man in Our Lives Thomas Nelson, London (1946)

Journey by Twilight Werner Laurie, London (1949)

Merry-Go-Round Werner Laurie, London (1950)

Is This What I Wanted? Werner Laurie, London (1950)

Paradise Bay Werner Laurie, London (1952)

The Seekers Werner Laurie, London (1952)

The Man in Our Lives - new edition by Neville Spearman, London (1955)

Documents

Sudden death at sea of author Mr John Brodie Taranaki Herald 16 March 1955

John Brodie's death occurs at sea Taranaki Daily News 17 March 1955

Vale, John Brodie Taranaki Daily News 17 March 1955

John Brodie New Zealand Listener 1 April 1955