'Here a human history is mined with humour and a clenching sense of its sombre inequities: man's squat but lengthening shadow in the sun' -- Guardian 'He has a hard muscular quality to his writing. Some of his phrases hammer against you like a collier's pick.' -- The Times 'An intense, witty and beautifully wrought novel' -- Daily Telegraph

William McIlvanney is one of Scotland's foremost writers whose award-winning novels include LAIDLAW, THE PAPERS OF TONY VEITCH, THE BIG MAN, which was made into a film starring Liam Neeson, STRANGE LOYALTIES, and THE KILN. He has also published a volume of short stories, WALKING WOUNDED, three books of poetry and a collection of essays and journalism, SURVIVING THE SHIPWRECK. He lives in Glasgow.