Bristol and Oxford (1877–84) and Two ‘Small’ Books (1879)

During the seven year period 1879–84, Marshall spent five years in Bristol, one year of extended sick leave in Europe and one year at Oxford. At the end of 1884, the death of Henry Fawcett, and Marshall’s successful application to replace him as Professor of Political Economy, enabled him to return to Cambridge. Although these years away from Cambridge constituted a period of exile for the Marshalls away from many of their friends, they were nevertheless fruitful and enjoyable. This is despite the fact that the first four years in Bristol were spoiled for Alfred Marshall by the heavy administrative load that his college position as Principal entailed and, from 1879, by the illness (a stone in the kidney) which allowed them to escape Bristol for a year to Palermo and, more generally, Europe. Their sojourn in Sicily was later described by Mary Paley Marshall as one of the happiest periods in their lives, largely because Alfred Marshall was free to work while she relaxed in that colourful city with her painting. The period of leave in Sicily and Europe was followed by a further year at Bristol as Professor of Political Economy only (hence without the ardours of academic administration for which Marshall clearly was totally unsuitable). In the academic year, 1883–84 Marshall was Fellow of Balliol College and Lecturer in Political Economy at Oxford.