It seeks to provide a history of how literature spread and developed through the nations of england, ireland, scotland, and the united states. In 2000 gray edited the book of prefaces, which he also designed and. Buy the book of prefaces first edition by gray, alasdair isbn. My own affection for the glasgow and leather sofas aside the two fuse amazingly together this book has some fantastic characters that deviously intermingle on the street. Fans observed that gray s artistic contributions to his city meant he would live forever in glasgow. Gray lanark and a history maker poured 16 years of research into the book of prefaces, and adds considerable value with his own running commentary, which straggles down the margins in brash red ink. Gray referred to himself as an increasingly fat glasgow pedestrian. His poetry has a similarly questioning, subversive tone but is also honest and painfully aware of loss. 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. Mencken described the work as my most important book in its effects upon my professional career. 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rodge glass, first tutee and then secretary to the author, takes on the role of biographer, charting gray s life from unpublished and unrecognised son of a boxmaker to septuagenarian little grey. The book of prefaces, is a 2000 book edited and glossed citation needed by the scottish artist and novelist alasdair gray. Alasdair gray changed the landscape of scottish fiction.
The book of prefaces offers an unusual and unprecedented look at literature, a treat for any reader. Alasdair gray, born december 28, 1934, east glasgow, scotlanddied december 29. His works of fiction combine realism, fantasy, and science fiction with the use of his. 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. Alasdair gray has opened his book of prefaces with what he calls an advertisement and. From unthank to glasgow and back the new york times. This anthology gathers the work of great writers such as geoffrey chaucer, lewis carroll, john milton, edgar allan poe, and many more. This god, with revenge in mind, first makes earth ugly as hell.
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. He was also editor of the book of prefaces, published in 2000, and wrote short stories. 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. Alasdair gray s writing offered me something freeing. He is also the author of the book of prefaces, the storycollection, ten tales tall and true, and the groundbreaking modern classic, lanark. This book is a unique history of how literature spread and developed through three british nations and most north american states. Periclean athens, renaissance florence, victorian somerset mingle with britain under the new labour party, viewed from the west end of glasgow. The book of prefaces 2000 tells the story of the development of the english.
Learn more about his life and career, including his other notable books. Alasdair gray, who has died aged 85, was one of the few true polymaths of his time. A life in four books 1981, wasnt published until he was 46, but it came to be hailed as a masterpiece. He liked to describe himself as a maker of imagined objects and that was undoubtedly the case. Scottish author alasdair gray who wrote novels including lanark. Alasdair james gray 28 december 1934 29 december 2019 was a scottish writer and artist. Buy the book of prefaces new edition by gray, alasdair isbn. His first novel, lanark 1981, is seen as a landmark of scottish fiction. Buy by alasdair gray the book of prefaces new edition paperback by alasdair gray isbn.
This copy is very rare as it has been signed by alasdair gray to the half title page and 11 of the books contributors next to their portraits including james kellman. For the book by alasdair gray see the book of prefaces a book of prefaces is h. Alasdair gray is a glasgow writer and artist, most famous for his novel lanark 1981. Writer and painter alasdair gray books the guardian. The anthology of prefaces alasdair gray bloomsbury buy it at bol. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, paperback barnes. 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. The novel, a semiautobiographical mix of science fiction, fantasy and.
A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century na. On the back of something leather is listed positive and negative reaction to alasdair gray s book and in red you can see that his book has clearly riled people incredibly. Kennedy, bernard maclaverty, liz lochhead, roger scruton and, indeed, virginia woolf. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book of prefaces, he approached a publisher at jonathan cape for an advance. 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. 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. Grandly conceived, gorgeously realised, and sparklingly alert to the making not just of works of art, but of a language, this crammed compendium, so copiously yet lightly learned, so drolly selfreflexive, yet enticingly accessible, so exhilaratingly, quixotically magniloquent, is the last. He made me feel acknowledged, spoken to, listened for. Alasdair gray most prolific and bibulous of writers bookbrunch. When i heard that a selection of alasdair grays art was going to be exhibited in.
Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation. The book of prefaces seeks to provide a history of how literature spread and developed through the. Alasdair gray, author of the modern classics lanark, poor things and 1982, janine, is without doubt scotlands greatest living novelist. Twenty years after the initial gratitude for this book s having been written at all. Usually, the works of dead authors get prefaces written by scholars. 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. After reading alasdair gray s lanark, a first novel published in england. Alasdair gray s novel lanark was finally published in 1981 by edinburghs canongate books, then a very small company who accepted gray s offer to design the cover of the book to save money.
A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century book online at best prices in india on. Sharpeyed literary trainspotters may have noticed that alasdair gray. Perhaps his most extraordinary project for bloomsbury was the book of prefaces. Author and artist alasdair gray has died at aged 85. Gray selected the works, wrote extensive marginal notes, and translated some earlier pieces into modern english. Liz calder recalls the writer and artist, who has died at the age of 85. Mencken s 1917 collection of essays criticizing american culture, authors, and movements.
The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, first edition. Alasdair used tippex to write his name onto his rucksack in distinctive capitalshe designed his own fontthen carried it around the streets of glasgows west end while locals and tourists whispered about. Alasdair gray won the the whitbread and guardian awards for poor things. He published novels, short stories, plays, poetry and translations, and wrote on politics and the history of english and scots literature. Writer and painter alasdair gray kickstarted a golden. This anthology of prefaces has been announced so many times in previous alasdair gray blurbs as to.
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