John Joy Bell (7 June 1871 – 14 November 1934), known professionally as J.J. Bell, was a Scottish journalist and author.
Born at 4 Bothwell Terrace in Hillhead, Glasgow he was the eldest son of James Taylor Bell, a tobacco manufacturer. [1]
Bell was schooled at Kelvinside Academy and Morrison's Academy in Crieff. He attended the University of Glasgow, where he studied chemistry. After becoming a journalist, Bell worked for the Glasgow Evening Times, and as sub-editor of the Scots Pictorial. His articles described the life of working-class Glaswegians, and were often written in the vernacular. He created the character of ' Wee Macgreegor' for his Evening Times articles, and the stories were so popular that they were published in book form, and later made into a film.
Bell has often been criticised for being overly sentimental, but it is also said that his vernacular was accurately representative, which is partly what made them popular.[ citation needed] During recent years though, Bell's books are increasingly neglected.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen. The grave lies close to the north-east corner of the church.
He was married to Helen Robertson Geddes (1876-1949). [2]
John Joy Bell (7 June 1871 – 14 November 1934), known professionally as J.J. Bell, was a Scottish journalist and author.
Born at 4 Bothwell Terrace in Hillhead, Glasgow he was the eldest son of James Taylor Bell, a tobacco manufacturer. [1]
Bell was schooled at Kelvinside Academy and Morrison's Academy in Crieff. He attended the University of Glasgow, where he studied chemistry. After becoming a journalist, Bell worked for the Glasgow Evening Times, and as sub-editor of the Scots Pictorial. His articles described the life of working-class Glaswegians, and were often written in the vernacular. He created the character of ' Wee Macgreegor' for his Evening Times articles, and the stories were so popular that they were published in book form, and later made into a film.
Bell has often been criticised for being overly sentimental, but it is also said that his vernacular was accurately representative, which is partly what made them popular.[ citation needed] During recent years though, Bell's books are increasingly neglected.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen. The grave lies close to the north-east corner of the church.
He was married to Helen Robertson Geddes (1876-1949). [2]