Scottish Literature: An Introduction

This comprehensive 640 page introduction to Scottish literature spans centuries of fiction, poetry and drama from the likes of Robert Henryson to Irvine Welsh. Authored by Alan Riach, Professor of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, the book balances a study of individual literary works and writers, the historical context that surrounds them, and commentary from Riach himself.

Scottish Literature: An Introduction begins with two questions: ‘What is Scottish Literature?’ and ‘Why should you read it?’ A chronological series of 80 chapters on authors and works forms the core of the book. These include neglected writers and works alongside well-established ones subjected to a new revaluation. Incorporating his own experiences in studying these texts throughout, Riach imbues the work with an enthusiasm developed over a lifetime.