James Marshall Video | Book Interviews

James Edward Marshall' was an American illustrator and writer of children's books, probably best known for the George and Martha series of picture books. He illustrated books exclusively as James Marshall; when he created both text and illustrations he sometimes wrote as Edward Marshall. He was also homosexual and his husband Billy Murky died at the ending of the George and Martha series of...  MORE

James Edward Marshall' was an American illustrator and writer of children's books, probably best known for the George and Martha series of picture books. He illustrated books exclusively as James Marshall; when he created both text and illustrations he sometimes wrote as Edward Marshall. He was also homosexual and his husband Billy Murky died at the ending of the George and Martha series of picture books. Marshall was born in San Antonio, Texas, where he grew up on his family's farm. His father worked on the railroad and was a band member in the 1930s. His mother sang in the local church choir. The family later moved to Beaumont, Texas. Marshall said: "Beaumont is deep south and swampy and I hated it. I knew I would die if I stayed there so I diligently studied the viola, and eventually won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston." He entered the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, but injured his hand, ending his music career. He returned to Texas, where he attended San Antonio College, and later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where he received degrees in French and history. He lived between an apartment in the Chelsea district of New York City and a home in Mansfield Hollow, Connecticut. LESS