Scotland and the Scottish Diaspora
"It's part of me, Scotland. I'm still immersed in it even though I am not there." -- Irvine Welsh (1958 - ), Scots novelist, short story writer, playwright, author of Trainspotting among many other works).
All my life I have been interested in the history of Scotland and the profound consequences of the Scottish diaspora throughout the world. Scotland and the Scots are appealing in so many ways -- the beauty of the land- and seascapes, the food and drink, the extraordinarily resourceful and creative people, the dramatic history from antiquity to the present, the great literature and history and philosophy and religion. The subjects are themselves enough to inspire writing, but there is great satisfaction in the fact that the Scots have lived up to the subjects on their own writ.
Over many years I have researched the history of Cumberland Valley, and I have often talked about the Scots, the Scots-Irish, and the settlement of this part of the New World by these willing and not-so-willing exiles. In recognition of the history and significance of the Scots to our area, I fly the Saltire and carry these books and cds. I am always on the lookout for more.
P.S. Due to listing limitations, I have moved Ian Rankin and Denise Mina, two fine writers of the Scots Noir movement, over to our International Mystery page.
A Decent Ride
A Decent Ride
‘Juice’ Terry Lawson is a man who contains multitudes: he’s a top shagger, a drug dealer, a gonzo pornstar, and a taxi driver. As we ride along in Juice’s cab through the depraved streets of Edinburgh, we encounter a series of charmingly filthy characters, each of whom present their own unique challenges. Has he finally met his match in Hurricane ‘Bawbag’? Can he discover the fate of the beautiful Jinty Magdalen and keep her idiot-savant lover, Wee Jonty, out of prison? Will he find out the real motives of the reality-TV star, Ronald Checker? And, crucially, will Juice be able to negotiate life after a terrible event robs him of his sexual virility, and can a new fascination for the game of golf help him to live without a decent ride? Buckle your seatbelts and prepare for one unforgettable trip.
Praise for A DECENT RIDE:
“A case can be made that Irvine Welsh is the most outrageous novelist now at large in the English-speaking world.”
—The Washington Post
“A hilarious, gleefully offensive book, featuring necrophilia, incest, and a character named Ronald Checker, a rich reality TV host who might remind readers of a certain Republican presidential candidate.”
—Men’s Journal
“Welsh renders [A DECENT RIDE] with the same comedic precision and messy obscenity that he’s been refining since Trainspotting.”
—NPR.org
“The 10th novel by this Scottish transplant to Lake View is as crass as you would expect from the man who wrote Trainspotting.”
—Chicago Magazine
“This Scottish picaresque is bawdy, profane, funny, tragic, farcical, kindhearted, exuberant, and disgusting in almost equal measure … Great entertainment.”
—Booklist
“Welsh’s funniest, filthiest novel yet.”
—Library Journal
“As always, Welsh takes things from zero to sixty in his latest novel … not for the squeamish, prudish, or faint of heart.”
—Kirkus Reviews