Brian Campbell

Born in 1934, Brian Campbell McFarlane is an Australian figure with a multifaceted career encompassing teaching, academia, and writing, with a particular focus on film history and literary adaptation. His early fascination with cinema, sparked at age five, led him to pursue studies in English and French, eventually earning advanced degrees from the University of Melbourne and the University of East Anglia, where his PhD explored the connection between literature and film.

McFarlane's career included extensive experience as a secondary school teacher in Australia, England, and the United States, culminating in a 15-year tenure at Trinity Grammar School. He later transitioned to tertiary education, holding positions at various universities, including Monash University, where he spent his final decade teaching literature and film, concentrating on British cinema and adaptations. His scholarly contributions are significant, with over 30 books and numerous articles to his name, establishing him as a leading authority on British film and the process of adapting literature for the screen.

Brian Campbell McFarlane was born in 1934 and grew up in Victoria, Australia. His deep interest in film began at a young age, leading him to write his first film review at ten. Despite initial parental reservations about cinema's influence, his passion persisted. He pursued higher education in Melbourne, earning a BA and DipEd, followed by an MA in Australian literature. McFarlane furthered his academic credentials by completing a PhD at the University of East Anglia, focusing his doctoral research on the adaptation of literary works into film. This academic foundation shaped his subsequent career in film studies and criticism.

McFarlane's professional life spanned both secondary and tertiary education. After his initial studies, he taught at secondary schools in regional Victoria, England, and the United States, including a 15-year period at Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne. He also received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach in the US. Transitioning to higher education, he held part-time tutoring roles before becoming a full-time academic. He served as a visiting professor at the University of Hull and spent his last ten years of full-time work at Monash University, teaching literature and film with a specialization in British cinema and literary adaptations. He also held adjunct professorships at Monash and Swinburne University of Technology.

As a writer, McFarlane has authored or co-authored over 30 books and numerous articles on film and literature. He is widely recognized for his significant editorial and authorial contributions to major reference works, including the Oxford Companion to Australian Film and The Encyclopedia of British Film, where he served as chief author and compiler. His expertise is particularly noted in the field of British cinema and the theory and practice of literary adaptations to film. McFarlane also contributes film and book reviews to various publications and online journals, solidifying his international reputation as a leading film historian and critic.