J.J. Bell



John Joy Bell (7 June 1871–14 November 1934), who wrote and published as J.J. Bell, was a Scottish poet, prose author, and journalist.

Life
Born in Hillhead, Glasgow, Bell was schooled at Kelvinside Academy and Morrison's Academy. 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 '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. During recent years though, Bell's books are increasingly neglected.

Publications

 * The New Noah's Ark, 1898
 * Jack of All Trades, John Lane, London & New York, 1899
 * Songs of the Hour, 1900
 * Wee Macgreegor, 1902
 * Ethel, Harper & Brothers, 1903
 * Mistress McLeerie, 1903
 * Wee Macgreegor Again, 1904
 * Later Adventures of Wee Macgreegor, 1904
 * Jess & Co., 1904
 * Mr. Pennycook's Boy, 1905
 * Mr. Lion of London, 1905
 * Clyde Songs and other verses, The Scots Pictorial Publishing Co, London, 1906
 * Thou Fool!, 1907
 * Joseph Redhorn, 1908
 * Whither Thou Goest, 1908
 * Oh! Christina!, 1909
 * Dancing Days, 1910
 * Wullie McWattie's Master, 1910
 * The Indiscretions of Maister Redhorn, Fleming H. Revell Co, 1911
 * Jim, 1911
 * A Kingdom of Dreams, 1911
 * The Best Man, 1911
 * Courtin' Christina, 1913
 * Bobby, 1914
 * The Whalers, 1914
 * The Misadventures of Joseph, Fleming H. Revell Co, 1914
 * Wee Macgreegor Enlists, 1915
 * Little Grey Ships, 1916
 * Cupid in Oilskins, 1916
 * Kiddies, 1916
 * Till The Clock Stops, 1916, ISBN 1-4191-9012-1
 * Story of Kitty Carstairs, 1917
 * Secret Cards, Hodder & Stroughton, 1917
 * All Ages, 1918
 * Johnny Pride, 1918
 * Atlantic Gold, 1918
 * Just Jemima, Fleming H. Revell Co, 1919
 * The Middle Strip, 1919
 * Jimmy Johnny, 1920
 * The Pie in the Oven (in 1 act), 1922
 * Wee Macgreegor's Party (in 1 act), 1922
 * Thread o' Scarlet (in 1 act), 1923
 * Those Class Distinctions (in 1 act), 1923
 * Wolves (in 1 act), 1923
 * Some Plain, Some Coloured, 1923
 * The Nickums, 1923
 * Mr. Craw, 1924
 * Courtin' Christina (in 1 act), 1924
 * The Laird's Lucky Number (in 1 act), 1924
 * The Invisible Net, 1924
 * The Braw Bailie, 1925
 * Mr. and Mrs. Craw, 1926
 * Exit Mrs. McLeerie (in 1 act), 1927
 * Betty, 1927
 * Hoots!, 1929
 * The Whale-Hunters, 1929
 * Meet Mr. Craw, 1929
 * Gambler's Hope, 1929
 * Breaking Point (in 1 act), 1930
 * Good-morning Sir John (in 1 act), 1930
 * Laird of Glenlaggan, 1931
 * The Glory of Scotland, 1932
 * The Women, 1932
 * I Remember, Porpoise Press, Edinburgh, 1932
 * Scotland's Rainbow West, 1933
 * Hamish, 1934
 * Scotland in Ten Days, 1934
 * Melodies and Memories, 1934
 * Do you remember?
 * On the Quay (poem)
 * Beyond London Lights