(1899– ).

Authoress.

A new biography of Marsh, Edith Ngaio appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

Edith Ngaio Marsh was born at Christchurch on 23 April 1899 and educated at St. Margaret's College and Canterbury University School of Art. For two years she was on the stage and in play production in London where next, in 1932, she kept a shop. But with the publication of her first book the following year she embarked upon a full-time writing career. Her output has been considerable and highly successful, and she is rated as one of the world's 10 best “thriller” writers, with more than 20 books to her credit. Her principal creation is the scholarly and polished detective Roderick Alleyn. She reverted to play production, specialising in Shakespeare from 1938 to 1949, and brought two theatrical companies to New Zealand. In 1950 she was producer for the British and Dominions Theatres. Of recent years she has resided at Christchurch, New Zealand, and is active in play production, painting, lecturing, and writing. She was awarded an O.B.E. in 1948.