Alasdair gray, the book of prefaces, a short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations england, ireland, the united states. Finally, the book of prefaces is a lavishly illustrated anthology with illuminating glosses by gray and others a coffee table. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century. Alasdair james gray 28 december 1934 29 december 2019 was a scottish writer and artist. As alasdair gray turns 80 stuart kelly looks back at his literary work. Two 600plus page tomes highlight bloomsburys banner year to begin the millennium. Writer and critic stuart kelly looks back at his unique. 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. Alasdair gray, who has died aged 85, was one of the few true polymaths of his. There is the biographical snippet, full of gossipy details that make us feel at. Gray s own preface begins with an editors advertisement which cites william smellies preface to the.
Sep 18, 2007 14 gray also pays tribute to this tradition in the book of prefaces. His poetry has a similarly questioning, subversive tone but is also honest and painfully aware of loss. This anthology gathers the work of great writers such as geoffrey chaucer, lewis carroll, john milton, edgar allan poe, and many more. 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, a short survey of classic scottish writing edinburgh. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. 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. It is now regarded as a classic, and was described by the guardian as one of the landmarks of 20thcentury fiction. This book is a unique history of how literature spread and developed through three british nations and most north american states. Its subtitle a short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century outlines its scope. The label bella caledonia below the portrait of the main character on p.
Since then he has exhibited widely across scotland, particularly in his home city of glasgow, where he has also undertaken. In november 2019, he received a lifetime achievement award by the. The book of prefaces books of literary criticism inf. Alasdair gray is bestknown as one of scotlands foremost novelists, the author of groundbreaking works including lanark and 1982, janine. His works of fiction combine realism, fantasy, and science fiction with the use of his own typography and illustrations, and won several awards. Over more than six hundred pages, it gathers great prefaces from works of english literature from c. On wikipedia see preface, foreword, and introduction. Learn more about his life and career, including his other notable books.
This required him to pass exams in latin and mathematics both of which he hated. Its great to have all these wonderful prefaces in one handy volume, but gray, who supplies an introduction and many of the glosses, writes in a kind of shorthand, staccato style that is unpleasant, and he has weak control of comma usage. He is also the author of the book of prefaces, the storycollection, ten tales tall and true, and the groundbreaking modern classic, lanark. The book of prefaces edited by alasdair gray books. Complete summary of alasdair grays the book of prefaces. I first heard of it as workinprogress in the summer of 1998 when i received a begging letter, as he put it, from its beleaguered author. His most acclaimed work is his first novel, lanark, published in 1981 and written over a period of almost 30 years. His first novel, lanark 1981, is seen as a landmark of scottish fiction. His works combine elements of realism, fantasy and science fiction, plus clever use of typography and his own illustrations. Alasdair gray has opened his book of prefaces with what he calls an. It seeks to provide a history of how literature spread. Menckens 1917 collection of essays criticizing american culture, authors, and movements. The preface usually contains one of four pleasures, says anthologist alasdair gray.
Jun 27, 2020 alasdair gray s the book of prefaces was published 20 years ago. I picked this book up at the library because it had an interesting look to it. 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. 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. A magnificent booklovers book which is a pleasure to browse and an education to peruse. Alasdair gray is a glasgow writer and artist, most famous for his novel lanark 1981. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century london.
The book of prefaces 1st edition by alasdair gray and publisher bloomsbury publishing. His novel poor things 1992 won the whitbread novel award and the guardian fiction prize. In fact, the book was considered vitriolic enough that menckens close friend alfred knopf was concerned about publishing it because of the massive increase in patriotism during world war i in america. Canongate lands two titles in time for gray day the. In 2000 gray edited the book of prefaces, which he also designed and. His first novel, lanark, is seen as a landmark of scottish fiction. A graduate of glasgow school of art, alasdair gray s books are beautifully illustrated. A life in pictures by alasdair gray canongate books. It has long seemed the authors fate to do dante into english.
May 20, 2000 the book of prefaces alasdair gray bloomsbury. Nov 09, 2002 nicholas lezard finds a political and literary history of britain in the margins of alasdair gray s the book of prefaces nicholas lezard sat 9 nov 2002. This anthology of prefaces has been announced so many times in previous alasdair gray blurbs as to seem like a joke, though one. Alasdair gray describes himself as a selfemployed verbal and pictorial artist. Buy the book of prefaces new by gray, alasdair isbn. It won the scottish book of the year award and the scottish arts council book award. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray, first edition. Posts about alasdair gray written by biblioklept and edwin turner. Since then he has exhibited widely across scotland, particularly in his home city of glasgow, where he has also undertaken several mural commissions for many of the citys churches.
The book was eighty pages long and divided into four essays. Alasdair james gray was a scottish writer and artist. 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. All four pleasures are well represented in this 640page treasury of english and american intros, which runs from an a. It seeks to provide a history of how literature spread and developed through the nations of england, ireland, scotland, and. In fact, the book was considered vitriolic enough that menckens close friend alfred knopf was concerned about. For the book by alasdair gray see the book of prefaces a book of prefaces. The anthology of prefaces offers an unusual and unprecedented look at literature, a treat for any reader.
Gray was born in glasgow in 1934 and studied design and mural painting at glasgow school of art from 195257. Alasdair gray, scottish novelist, playwright, and artist best known for his surreal. Buy alasdair gray ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. The wholly lost below alasdair gray s novel lanark was a scottish divine comedy. One volume the fourth instalment in the harry potterseries garnered most of the publicity, attention, and sales presumably outselling all other nonharry potter bloomsbury titles combined, but it is the other, alasdair gray s marvel of a book, the book of prefaces, that. It turns out it does exist, but the prefaces by zeldner and the nowsupposedlyexintern poin. His artistic talents can also be seen in the heart of the west end where he is painting a new mural in one of his favourite hostelrys the ubiquitous chip. A short history of literate thought in words by great writers of four nations from the 7th to the 20th century gray, alasdair on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Critical appreciations and a bibliography, phil moores ed. Dec 18, 2014 the inimitable alasdair gray, author, artist and allround giant of the scottish arts celebrates his 80th birthday on 28 december 2014. May 21, 2000 the anthology of prefaces alasdair gray bloomsbury buy it at bol. Alasdair gray won the the whitbread and guardian awards for poor things. A gray playbook of shows by alasdair gray 19562009.
Isbn 9780712311298 postmodern strategies in alasdair gray s lanark. He published novels, short stories, plays, poetry and translations, and wrote on politics and the history of english and scots literature. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Alasdair gray s first novel, lanark, won immediate recognition as a distinctively scottish creation. Since 1981, when lanark was published by canongate, he authored, designed and illustrated seven novels, several books of short stories, a collection of his stage, radio and tv plays and a book of his visual art, a life in pictures. It is a relief to turn to the honest american book about the whale. The book of prefaces offers an unusual and unprecedented look at literature, a treat for any reader. He worked as a parttime art teacher, muralist and theatrical scene painter before becoming a fulltime painter and playwright. Gray wrote, designed and illustrated nine published novels, including the awardwinning lanark, of 1981, in gestation for 27 years. His most acclaimed work is his first novel lanark, published in 1981, which he wrote over a period of almost 30 years. The book of prefaces, is a 2000 book edited and glossed by the scottish artist and novelist alasdair gray. Alasdair said he was literally begging various writers and academics to help him complete the book which he was contracted to produce.
Born in 1934, alasdair gray graduated in design and mural painting from the glasgow school of art. The book of prefaces by alasdair gray librarything. 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. Mencken described the work as my most important book in its effects upon my professional career. Gray arias reference and languages books the guardian.
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