(1908– ).

Publisher and author.

A new biography of Reed, Alexander Wyclif appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

p>Alexander Wyclif Reed was born at Auckland on 7 March 1908, son of the Rev. A. J. Reed. He was educated at Auckland Grammar and Mount Albert Grammar Schools. Joining his uncle, A. H. Reed, in 1925, he helped to build up a small bookselling and publishing firm into the largest publishing business in New Zealand at the present time. In addition he is an active and successful author. In 1947 he was awarded the Esther Glen Medal of the New Zealand Library Association for the best children's book of the year. His other publications include Myths and Legends of Maoriland (1946), Wonder Tales of Maoriland (1948), Concise Maori Dictionary (1948), Maori Place Names (1950), The Story of New Zealand Place Names (1952), A Boys' and Girls' History of New Zealand (1960), An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Maori Life (1963), Treasury of Maori Folklore (1963), and Maori Fables and Legendary Tales (1964).