Lanark (Canongate Classic) [Paperback]

Alasdair Gray (Author), William Boyd (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Canongate Classic | Publication Date: May 31, 2007

A modern vision of hell, Lanark is set in the disintegrating cities of Unthank and Glasgow, and tells the interwoven stories of Lanark and Duncan Thaw. A work of extraordinary imagination and wide range, its playful narrative techniques convey a profound message, both personal and political, about humankind's inability to love, and yet our compulsion to go on trying. Widely recognized as a modern classic, Alasdair Gray's magnum opus was first published in 1981 and immediately established him as one of Britain's leading writers. Comparisons have been made to Dante, Blake, Joyce, Orwell, Kafka, Huxley, and Lewis Carroll. This new edition should cement his reputation as one of our greatest living writers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best in Scottish literature in the twentieth century."  —Iain Banks, author, Matter

About the Author

Alasdair Gray is the author of 1982, Janine; The Book of Prefaces; Old Men in Love; and Poor Things, for which he won the Whitbread Novel Award and the Guardian Fiction Prize.

Product Details

• Paperback: 573 pages
• Publisher: Canongate UK (May 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841959073
• ISBN-13: 978-1841959078
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #706,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was the best of times, ..., July 20, 2010

By 

Dick Johnson (Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lanark (Canongate Classic) (Paperback)

.... Wait! No it wasn't. It was the worst of times (again!), I think. Or, the times were at least as bad as the last time. But, what's happened to time? And, what's happened to place? Most of all, what's happened to me?

We are being taken somewhere that is not like where we were, but we can't remember where we were - or when. There's that time thing again; maybe, we think, we don't need time; but we do, so we have to find a way to find some.

This book is about something, somewhen, leading somewhere with some point that Gray wanted to make. I really hope he made it. It isn't important whether I recognized it as it went by. I was trying to figure out how I could avoid being what, when and where this was.

The main character is named Lanark and/or Thaw. He, or one of him, is dead. Or, the one who was that is now dead is also the one who is now alive or this second one is the dead first one somewhere else. Whatever he is, he isn't very likable. This puts him in good company with every other unlikable person. We are told about him(s) and the others by the author or the author's author.

Is a metafiction created by the author as author the same as a metafiction created by the author about another author? Is it still a metafiction or is it only the author sticking himself into the one fiction? Does the answer to either of those questions make a bit of difference? And, was there any reason for the last question, before this, or was it presumed to be asked before it, or this second question before this question mark and after the previous?

Confused (there should be a question mark next, but I don't want this to be confused as being a part of the previous questions, so I'll consider 'Confused' (the first) to be a statement of fact rather than an interrogatory).

It is worth the price of the book to read the Epilogue (which isn't one). By the by, Part 1 is not first, either; though, given everything else going on, no one should expect it to be. And, part of the time is spent in hell. All for one inclusive price and set of pages - that include Gray's art work.

To put it succinctly, if you need a book to start at A and go to Z and say The End - run from this one. If you need a book to actually make sense in such a way that you know what's going on or has gone on - join the race to the door. If you need likable characters or characters that make sense - recite the Who's on First? routine as you put this book down (un-bought).

If anyone is left, this is not an easy book to read or like - but it is a lot of fun. That's why I spend so much time reading. I've ordered three more by Gray. Consider that statement as a recommendation for this one.