A Scots Quair - The famous Scottish Trilogy

A Scots Quair is a celebrated trilogy by Scottish author Lewis Grassic Gibbon, consisting of Sunset Song (1932), Cloud Howe (1933), and Grey Granite (1934). The trilogy follows the life of Chris Guthrie, a young woman growing up in early 20th-century Scotland, as she navigates personal struggles, social change, and the harsh realities of rural and industrial life.

Synopsis of the Trilogy:

• Sunset Song – Set in rural Aberdeenshire, this novel follows Chris Guthrie’s coming-of-age as she experiences the hardships of farm life, the trauma of family tragedy, and the impact of World War I on her community. Torn between her love for the land and the desire for education and independence, Chris represents the tension between tradition and modernity in Scotland.

• Cloud Howe – Now widowed, Chris moves to a small town where she remarries a minister. The novel explores themes of religious hypocrisy, political unrest, and the struggles of the working class. Chris becomes more aware of the broader social and economic changes affecting Scotland in the early 20th century.

• Grey Granite – Chris relocates to an industrial city, witnessing the harsh realities of urban poverty and the rise of socialist movements. She is drawn into the struggles of the working class, reflecting the shifting social landscape of Scotland. The trilogy concludes with Chris as a resilient but deeply changed woman, shaped by the forces of history and personal hardship.

Themes and Significance:

A Scots Quair is a powerful exploration of Scottish identity, social change, feminism, and class struggle. Written in a lyrical blend of Scots and English, it remains a cornerstone of Scottish literature, celebrated for its rich character development and profound social commentary.

Lewis Grassic Gibbon (1901–1935): A Voice of Scottish Literature

Lewis Grassic Gibbon was the pen name of James Leslie Mitchell, a Scottish writer best known for his trilogy A Scots Quair (Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, and Grey Granite). His work is celebrated for its rich depiction of Scottish rural life, social change, and the struggles of the working class.

Born on February 13, 1901, in Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Mitchell grew up in the farming communities of the Mearns, an experience that deeply influenced his writing. He had a strong love for literature and history from an early age and began working as a journalist before joining the Royal Army Service Corps in 1919. His military service took him to the Middle East, where he developed an interest in archaeology and socialist ideals, both of which influenced his later works.

After leaving the army, he returned to journalism but also began writing fiction. Under his real name, he published adventure and science fiction novels, including Stained Radiance (1930) and Spartacus (1933), the latter a historical novel about the Roman slave revolt. However, it was under the pseudonym Lewis Grassic Gibbon—chosen to reflect his Scottish heritage—that he wrote his most famous work, A Scots Quair.

Published between 1932 and 1934, A Scots Quair follows the life of Chris Guthrie and captures the profound social and economic changes affecting Scotland in the early 20th century. Sunset Song, the first novel, is particularly celebrated for its lyrical prose and powerful portrayal of Scottish identity. The trilogy remains one of Scotland’s most influential literary achievements.

Tragically, Gibbon’s career was cut short when he died of peritonitis at the age of just 33, on February 7, 1935. Despite his brief life, his work continues to be widely read and studied, securing his place as one of Scotland’s most important writers. His ability to blend Scots language, social realism, and poetic storytelling has ensured his legacy as a defining voice in Scottish literature.

 

Bibliography of Lewis Grassic Gibbon (James Leslie Mitchell)

A Scots Quair Trilogy (under Lewis Grassic Gibbon)

• Sunset Song (1932) – A young woman’s coming-of-age story set in rural Scotland.
• Cloud Howe (1933) – Follows Chris Guthrie’s life in a small town, exploring religious and political tensions.
• Grey Granite (1934) – Depicts industrial struggles, working-class life, and socialism in Scotland.

Novels (as James Leslie Mitchell)

• Hanno: Or the Future of Exploration (1928) – A speculative fiction novel about exploration.
• Stained Radiance: A Fictionist’s Prelude (1930) – A modernist psychological novel.
• Three Go Back (1932) – A science fiction novel about time travel and prehistoric civilization.
• Spartacus (1933) – A historical novel about the Roman slave revolt.
• The Lost Trumpet (1932) – A novel centered on ancient history and archaeology.
• Gideon Guthrie (1934) – A novel about a Scotsman’s experiences in the British Empire.

Non-Fiction

• Mungo Park (1934) – A biography of the Scottish explorer who journeyed through West Africa.

Short Story Collections

• Sinners (1933) – A collection of short stories about Scottish life and morality.
• Scottish Scene (1934) – Co-written with Hugh MacDiarmid, a mix of fiction and essays on Scotland.

Posthumous Works and Collections

• The Speak of the Mearns (1982) – A collection of unpublished short stories about rural Scotland.
• The Collected Short Stories of Lewis Grassic Gibbon (1991) – A compilation of his short fiction.
• A Scots Quair (Published together in one volume, various editions).
• Letters of Lewis Grassic Gibbon (2001) – A collection of his personal and professional correspondence.

A fine early 50's edition of this literary classic with an original dustcover now under a protective sheath. Inside the pages are bright and clean throughout.

 

Please check the images associated with this Book to gain a clear insight into the book's condition and if you require further details please send an email enquiry. Please remember the book you are seeing in the image is the copy your are purchasing.