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Details:
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781782117148
Publisher: Canongate (Canons)
Age Range: Adult
Overview
Lanark: A Life in Four Books is Alasdair Gray's landmark 1981 novel, reissued here in the Canongate Canons series with an introduction by William Boyd. Widely regarded as one of the most important Scottish novels of the twentieth century, it weaves together the surreal, dreamlike city of Unthank with the realist Glasgow of Duncan Thaw, telling two interlocking stories across four books presented out of chronological order. This new paperback edition brings Gray's daring, genre-blending masterpiece to a new generation of readers.
About the Book
First published in 1981 after nearly three decades in the making, Lanark immediately established Alasdair Gray as one of Britain's most original literary voices. The novel is structured in four books rather than a conventional linear sequence, split between the fantastical, decaying city of Unthank — where the amnesiac Lanark searches for meaning in a place literally rotting from a mysterious illness — and the grounded, autobiographical story of Duncan Thaw, a young artist growing up in post-war Glasgow. Gray moves fluidly between science fiction, social realism, satire and black comedy, using bureaucratic nightmares and a shape-shifting Glasgow to explore art, illness, love, and the failures of institutions and individuals alike. The prose is by turns playful and devastating, and the book is illustrated throughout with Gray's own distinctive artwork. Iain Banks called it the best in Scottish literature of the century, and it helped spark a renaissance in Scottish fiction that influenced generations of writers. This Canons edition includes a new introduction by acclaimed novelist William Boyd, offering fresh context for readers approaching it for the first time or returning to it anew.
- Landmark Scottish novel considered a modern classic of world literature
- Includes a specially commissioned introduction by William Boyd
- Part of the acclaimed Canongate Canons series celebrating classic fiction
- Blends realism, satire and fantasy across an ambitious four-book structure
- Features Alasdair Gray's own striking illustrations throughout
- A thoughtful gift for readers of literary and speculative fiction
About the Author
Alasdair Gray (1934–2019) was a Scottish writer and artist, born in Glasgow, where he trained at the Glasgow School of Art. Lanark, his debut novel published in 1981, took over a quarter of a century to write and remains his most celebrated work, establishing him as a central figure in modern Scottish literature. He went on to write numerous novels, short stories and works of nonfiction, and was equally renowned for his artwork and murals. William Boyd, who contributes the introduction to this edition, is a bestselling and multi-award-winning British novelist known for works including Any Human Heart and Restless.
Why You'll Love This Scottish Classic
A genuinely singular reading experience, Lanark rewards readers with its ambition, wit and imaginative scope. Whether you're discovering Gray's masterwork for the first time or adding this handsome Canons edition to your collection, it's essential reading for lovers of literary fiction.
Please Note: Cover design may vary slightly from the image shown; this listing is for the UK edition with ISBN 9781782117148 as described.
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