He was born in riddrie, glasgow, on 28 december 1934, and trained as a painter at the glasgow school of art. Nicholas lezard finds a political and literary history of britain in the margins of alasdair grays the book of prefaces. The book of prefaces offers an unusual and unprecedented look at literature, a treat for any reader. Alasdair gray has spent sixteen years on this project though he has written and illustrated other books in the meantime, not least the prize. Like all his other books, the book of prefaces is distinguished from the ordinary. The book of prefaces edited by alasdair gray books the.
The book of prefaces by gray, alasdair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Buy alasdair gray in antiquarian and collectable books and get the. Books go search your store deals store gift cards sell help. Among prefaces to novels and poems from the well known. This will stand as a monument to grays achievements as an artist of words and of pictures. Alasdair james gray 28 december 1934 29 december 2019 was a scottish writer and artist. Michael kerrigan in the times literary supplement had mixed feelings about the book of prefaces. Alasdair grays novel lanark was finally published in 1981 by edinburghs canongate books, then a very small company who accepted grays offer to design the cover of the book to save money. The book of prefaces, is a 2000 book edited and glossed citation needed by the scottish artist and novelist alasdair gray. Find the book of prefaces by gray, alasdair at biblio.
The book of prefaces, is a 2000 book edited and glossed by the scottish artist and novelist alasdair gray. Periclean athens, renaissance florence, victorian somerset mingle with britain under the new labour party, viewed from the west end of glasgow. Published in 1983 by canongate books, but rumoured about, heard at readings. Alasdair gray, author of the modern classics lanark, poor things and 1982, janine, is without doubt scotlands greatest living novelist. Learn more about his life and career, including his other notable books. Alasdair gray won the the whitbread and guardian awards for poor things. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, paperback barnes. In fact, the book was considered vitriolic enough that menckens close friend alfred knopf was concerned about publishing. The anthology of prefaces offers an unusual and unprecedented look at literature, a treat for any reader. Like all of alasdair gray s books, the book of prefaces is a beautiful book. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Buy the book of prefaces book online at low prices in.
As alasdair gray turns 80 stuart kelly looks back at his literary work. Complete summary of alasdair gray s the book of prefaces. As in alasdair gray s lanark, 1982 janine, poor things, and the book of prefaces, this one has many styles of narrative and location. His remit has been to produce a history of literature in english from the sixth century to the present day. It seeks to provide a history of how literature spread and developed through the nations of england, ireland, scotland, and the united states. The book of prefaces seeks to provide a history of how literature spread and developed through the nations of england, ireland, scotland, and the united states. Introduction by william boyd lanark, a modern vision of hell, is set in the disintegrating cities of unthank and glasgow, and tells the interwoven stories of lanark and duncan thaw. This anthology gathers the work of great writers such as geoffrey chaucer, lewis carroll, john milton, edgar allan poe, and many more. Almost all you want to know about the scottish artist and author of lanark, poor things, unlikely stories mostly and the book of prefaces. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. This anthology of prefaces has been announced so many times in previous alasdair gray blurbs as to. It seeks to provide a history of how literature spread.
Since trying unsuccessfully to buy him a drink in 1998, rodge glass, first tutee and then secretary to the author, takes on the role of biographer, charting gray s life from unpublished and unrecognised son of a boxmaker to septuagenarian little grey. Dynamic as it all undoubtedly is, the weight of accumulated substance becomes hard to bear. Apr 05, 2012 alasdair gray, author of the modern classics lanark, poor things and 1982, janine, is without doubt scotlands greatest living novelist. Pity the simple monk whom alasdair gray in the book of prefaces described as a local herdsman who wanted to be a poet though he had not composed anything. Buy by alasdair gray the book of prefaces new edition paperback by alasdair gray isbn. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every. He worked as a parttime art teacher, muralist and theatrical scene painter before becoming a fulltime painter and playwright.
The result of a lifetimes reading and creative labour, intellectual and artistic, the book of prefaces will delight, amaze and inform both casual browsers and students. Alasdair gray, scottish novelist, playwright, and artist best known for his surreal atmospheric novel lanark 1981, which was hailed as a landmark of scottish literature. The most complete unofficial alasdair gray website on the web. Alasdair gray 28 december 1934 29 december 2019 wis a scots writer an airtist wha wis born an deed in glesga. Decorated and englished in prosaic verse by alasdair gray. A beautifully presented book from one of scotlands greatest artistic polymaths alasdair gray. Alasdair gray simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Buy the book of prefaces by alasdair gray from waterstones today. While alasdair gray has chosen and edited all the prefaces and has written most of the commentary in this book, he was assisted in this by some 30 authors who have also written commentaries. The title has changed now the book of prefaces, rather than an anthology. These poems were written when gray was working on his book of prefaces, and reflects some themes in that book. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, first edition abebooks. Richly illustrated by gray, it includes drawings of many of the authors on the cover and the contributors, as well as some of gray s marvelous graphic designs. The book of prefaces alasdair gray 28 december 1934 29 december 2019 was a scottish writer and artist. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, first edition.
The anthology of prefaces alasdair gray bloomsbury buy it at bol. A life in pictures by alasdair gray nook book ebook. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century. After decades of surviving by painting and writing tv and radio plays, his first novel, the loosely autobiographical, blackly fantastic lanark.
Buy the book of prefaces new edition by gray, alasdair isbn. Alasdair gray has chosen and edited all of the prefaces presented in this impressive volume and has included commentary by some thirty other authors including james kelman, a. The fiction of communion, gavin miller 2005 isbn 9789042017573. Alasdair gray has opened his book of prefaces with what he calls an advertisement and followed that with an essay on what led to english literature.
This book is a unique history of how literature spread and developed through three british nations and most north american states. Author alasdair grays complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Witty, humorous and beautifully illustrated, gray offers up a biographical account in pictures of his own artistic development including nods to the friends and colleagues who wereare his contemporaries there are some illustrated examples of the work of alan fletcher, for example. Alasdair gray born 28 december 1934 is a scottish writer and artist. Alasdair gray in antiquarian and collectable books for sale ebay. His acclaimed first novel, lanark 1981, written over almost 30 years, was described by the guardian as. Nov 04, 2002 buy the book of prefaces new edition by gray, alasdair isbn. The fall of kelvin walker by gray, alasdair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Writer and painter alasdair gray kickstarted a golden age of scottish fiction with lanark. Alasdair gray has spent over thirteen years on this project although he has written a number of books in the meantime, among them the whitbread and guardian prizewinning novel poor things and the story collection, ten tales tall and true. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray powells books.
Nov 09, 2002 the book of prefaces, ed alasdair gray bloomsbury. A gray playbook of shows by alasdair gray 19562009. It has almost nothing in common with any book written by any living author. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. He published novels, short stories, plays, poetry and translations, and wrote on politics and the history of english and scots literature. Books by alasdair gray share book recommendations with your. After a decade and a bit of footling around with pleasant but whimsical novels and the occasional killer short story, alasdair gray has finally delivered his longpromised anthology of englishlanguage prefaces. Finally, the book of prefaces is a lavishly illustrated anthology with illuminating glosses by gray and. His first novel, lanark 1981, is seen as a landmark of scottish fiction. This book is not a monster created by a literary baron frankenstein, but a unique history of how literature spread and developed through three british nations and most north american states. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the lanark by alasdair gray, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Since 1981, when alasdair grays first novel lanark. Alasdair gray is an old asthmatic glaswegian who lives by painting, writing and book design. A fine, unread copy of a first edition, first impression paperback original.
Between 1977 and 1979, gray was a writer in residence at the university of glasgow. Gray continued to paint and write playscripts for stage, tv and radio. The book of prefaces edited by alasdair gray books. Alasdair gray download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Menckens 1917 collection of essays criticizing american culture, authors, and movements. A gray play book follows the creation of the playwright genius from his first work, written at age 11, to the 2008 oneact play voices in the dark. Alasdair gray is the author of the whitbread and the guardian prizewinning novel poor things and the story collection ten tales tall and true. Buy the book of prefaces book online at best prices in india on. Kennedy, bernard maclaverty, liz lochhead, roger scruton and, indeed, virginia woolf. As well as being awardwinning tales, his books are also works of art that are a delight to own and hold, from the embossed boards to his own illustrations.
From lanark to the book of prefaces, alasdair gray, more than any other writer still working, can be claimed as the modern successor to william blake. Mencken described the work as my most important book in its effects upon my professional career. He is also the author of the book of prefaces, the storycollection, ten tales tall and true, and the groundbreaking modern classic, lanark. Click download or read online button to get alasdair gray book now.
Episodes from the early life of archibald mccandless m. This copy is very rare as it has been signed by alasdair gray to the half title page and 11 of the book s contributors next to their portraits including james kellman. Lanark, subtitled a life in four books, is the first novel of scottish writer alasdair gray. Alasdair grays collection of prefaces is striking in its portentousness. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century gray, alasdair on. Born in 1934 in glasgow, he graduated in design and mural art from the glasgow school of art in 1957.
It then became known that others were assisting gray in his task of glossing the prefaces including crucially important scottish writers such as jim kelman, tom leonard, janice galloway, and alison kennedy. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century by alasdair gray editor 4. Written over a period of almost thirty years, it combines realist and dystopian surrealist depictions of his home city of glasgow. Dec 29, 2019 alasdair gray, scottish novelist, playwright, and artist best known for his surreal atmospheric novel lanark 1981, which was hailed as a landmark of scottish literature. While alasdair gray has chosen and edited all the prefaces and has written most of the commentary he has been assisted in this endeavour by some thirty authors who have also written commentaries. His first novel, lanark, published in 1981, was written over almost 30 years. Lanark by alasdair gray poor things by alasdair gray unlikely stories. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alasdair gray author alasdair gray won the the whitbread and guardian awards for poor things. For the book by alasdair gray see the book of prefaces.