Joseph McLellan
Encyclopedia
Joseph Duncan McLellan was The Washington Post
' s music critic for more than three decades as well as a chess and book reviewer.
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts
in 1929 and grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts
. He received his bachelor's degree
in French
from Boston College
in 1951 and his master's degree
in French literature
, also from Boston College, in 1953. He planned to be a professor of French literature but began doing freelance reviews and found that he had a talent for journalism.
He once told Washingtonian
magazine: "To be the primary critic of a monopoly newspaper is an overwhelming role. You have to tread softly and be fully aware that your taste is not the only valid taste. All these years, I pasted in the front of my mind that there are many ways to be good." http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/12/29/joseph_mclellan_76_venerable_music_critic/
In addition to serving as chief music critic for the Post, McLellan wrote a chess column, wrote for Book World and covered White House parties and other society events for the Style section. He covered world chess matches, and edited a syndicated column by the Czechoslovakian American grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek.
He reputedly taught himself to write as a youngster by reading How to Write, a book that came as a bonus with a set of encyclopedias he bought with money earned from his paper route.
McLellan died of kidney failure on December 26, 2005. He had continued to review concerts for The Washington Post until the fall of 2005.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
in 1929 and grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
in 1951 and his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
, also from Boston College, in 1953. He planned to be a professor of French literature but began doing freelance reviews and found that he had a talent for journalism.
He once told Washingtonian
Washingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
magazine: "To be the primary critic of a monopoly newspaper is an overwhelming role. You have to tread softly and be fully aware that your taste is not the only valid taste. All these years, I pasted in the front of my mind that there are many ways to be good." http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/12/29/joseph_mclellan_76_venerable_music_critic/
In addition to serving as chief music critic for the Post, McLellan wrote a chess column, wrote for Book World and covered White House parties and other society events for the Style section. He covered world chess matches, and edited a syndicated column by the Czechoslovakian American grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek.
He reputedly taught himself to write as a youngster by reading How to Write, a book that came as a bonus with a set of encyclopedias he bought with money earned from his paper route.
McLellan died of kidney failure on December 26, 2005. He had continued to review concerts for The Washington Post until the fall of 2005.