James McFarlane

James Walter McFarlane (12 December 1920, Sunderland – 9 August 1999, Stody, Norfolk) was a scholar of European literature, author of The Oxford Ibsen, and founding Dean of the School of European Studies at University of East Anglia which included Scandinavian studies.

Early years McFarlane grew up in Sunderland and attended Bede Grammar School, and then went to St Catherine's College, Oxford. His Oxford degree in modern languages, interrupted by war while he served in Europe in the Intelligence Corps, was completed in 1947. During the war he played association football for Sunderland A.F.C. (In 1963, this became Newcastle University) Here he encountered the likes of Harald Næss and Ake Leander.

Volumes 1970: Early plays 1962: The Vikings at Helgeland, Love's Comedy, The Pretenders 1972: Brand; Peer Gynt 1963: The League of Youth, Emperor and Galilean 1961: Pillars of society; A Doll's House; Ghosts 1960: An Enemy of the People; The Wild Duck; Rosmersholm 1966: Lady From the Sea; Hedda Gabler, the Master Builder 1977: Little Eyolf; John Gabriel Borkman; When We Dead Awaken

As a result of this work, McFarlane was also appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, and made a member of Danish and Norwegian academies.

University of East Anglia McFarlane moved to Norwich, and in 1964 he was appointed Chair of European Literature at the newly established University of East Anglia, and founding dean of the school of European studies.

In 1991 he retired from editor of Scandinavica.

Community life He married Kathleen Crouch in 1944. They were both active in the community, with James acting as: