Alasdair Gray, Dies Aged 85

Hello Gentle Reader

On December 29 2019, the Scottish writer and artist, Alasdair Gray died a day after his eighty-fifth birthday, in a hospital in his native Glasgow after a short illness. After the news of Alasdair Gray’s death tributes, memories, reflections, and continued praise have been issued and published by the literary world. Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon paid beautiful homage to the late author and artist by calling him one of the: “brightest intellectual and creative lights Scotland has known in modern times,” [The Guardian, 12/29/2019]. Fellow Scottish writer, Ali Smith called Alasdair Gray a modern William Blake. The continual thread has been consistent in its praise and reflection: Alasdair Gray, provoked and showed that Scottish literature was not second-rate, not second class, not less then, or wanting; but a serious literary form, which rivalled other English language literary traditions, but with its own unique culture and flare. Alasdair Gray is best known for his often surreal, postmodern, dystopian, and (at times delegated) science fiction writing. “Lanark,” is Grays debut and often considered one of the most important landmarks of Scottish Literature in the Twentieth Century. “Lanark,” is compromised of surrealism, postmodern literary techniques, Kafkaesque situations, and a twisted bent of reality reflected and refracted in on itself. The novel put Alasdair Gray on the literary map, and would become one of the most prominent novels of the eighties, and influenced a new generation of Scottish writers including: Ian [M] Banks, Irvine Welsh, and Janice Galloway. Be it a bold assertion—even arrogantly so—it appeared that Alasdair Gray brought post-modernism to Scotland, and encouraged others to continue to experiment with form, narrative, and perspective. In accomplishment and companion to his literary work, Alasdair Gray was a renowned visual artist. Gray studied at the Glasgow School of Art, specializing in mural paintings. His work can be found displayed in museums (Victoria and Albert Museum, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the National Library of Scotland, and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery) his murals have been featured in Hillhead subway station as well as the arts and music venue Òran Mór. Alasdair Grays artistic work also made distinct appearances in his literary work, including the landmark: “Lanark.” Throughout it all, Alasdair Gray had proved himself to being a profound and striking polymath whose creative impressions will forever remain in Glasgow, haunting and projecting the city internally and beyond.

Rest in Peace, Alastair Gray.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary