William McIlvanney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William McIlvanney
McIlvanney at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2013
Born	William Angus McIlvanney 25 November 1936 Kilmarnock, Scotland
Died	5 December 2015 (aged 79) Glasgow, Scotland
Education	University of Glasgow
Notable works	Docherty (1975), Laidlaw (1977), Strange Loyalties (1991)
Relatives	Liam McIlvanney (son)

William McIlvanney (born November 25, 1936 – died December 5, 2015) was a famous Scottish writer. He wrote novels, short stories, and poems. His friends often called him Gus. McIlvanney was known for his powerful and poetic writing. His books like Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded show what life was like in Glasgow in the 1970s. Many people call him "the father of Tartan Noir" because he helped create this style of Scottish crime writing.

About William McIlvanney

William McIlvanney was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, on November 25, 1936. He was the youngest of four children. His father used to be a miner. William went to school at Kilmarnock Academy.

Early Life and Career

After school, he studied English at the University of Glasgow. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1960. For many years, McIlvanney worked as an English teacher. He even became an assistant headmaster at Greenwood Academy. In 1975, he decided to leave teaching to focus on writing full-time.

William's older brother, Hugh McIlvanney, was a well-known sports journalist. William's son, Liam McIlvanney, also became a crime writer.

Other Work and Beliefs

Besides writing books, McIlvanney often wrote for newspapers. He also worked on a BBC Scotland football documentary called Only a Game? in 1986. He was the writer and narrator for the show.

McIlvanney always believed strongly in socialist ideas. This means he thought society should be fair for everyone, especially working people. He was against the policies of Margaret Thatcher, who was the Prime Minister at the time. Later, he felt disappointed with the Labour party under Tony Blair. By 2014, he began to think that Scottish independence (Scotland becoming its own country) might be the best way forward for Scotland.

His Passing

William McIlvanney passed away on December 5, 2015, when he was 79 years old. He had been ill for a short time. Many famous people, like Nicola Sturgeon (a Scottish politician), Ian Rankin (another famous writer), and Irvine Welsh (a writer), shared their sadness. They remembered him as an inspiring writer and a kind, gentlemanly person.

His Books and Writing Style

William McIlvanney wrote many different kinds of books. He was known for creating strong characters and exploring deep ideas.

Early Novels

His first book, Remedy is None, came out in 1966. It won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize in 1967.

Docherty was published in 1975. This book tells the story of a miner whose bravery and strength are tested during hard times. It won the Whitbread Novel Award.

The Big Man (1985) is about Dan Scoular, a man who is out of work. He starts bare-knuckle fighting to earn money. Both Docherty and The Big Man feature characters that are typical of McIlvanney's writing. They are often tough men who struggle with their own feelings and backgrounds. The Big Man was even made into a film in 1990. It starred Liam Neeson and Billy Connolly.

His novel, The Kiln (1996), tells the story of Tam Docherty. Tam is the grandson of the hero from Docherty. This book won the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award.

Crime Novels and Tartan Noir

McIlvanney also wrote popular crime novels. These include Laidlaw (1977), The Papers of Tony Veitch (1983), and Strange Loyalties (1991). These books feature a detective named Inspector Jack Laidlaw.

Laidlaw is often seen as the very first book of Tartan Noir. This is a special type of Scottish crime fiction that is often dark and realistic. Even though McIlvanney called the term "Tartan Noire," he is still considered its founder.

Poetry and Other Works

William McIlvanney was also a poet. He published collections of poems like The Longships in Harbour: Poems (1970) and Surviving the Shipwreck (1991). This second book also included some of his newspaper articles.

He wrote a screenplay based on his short story "Dreaming." This story was part of his 1989 collection Walking Wounded. BBC Scotland filmed the screenplay in 1990, and it won a BAFTA award.

From April 2013, McIlvanney shared his writing regularly on his own website. He posted personal thoughts, reflections, and current topics, as well as his journalism.

His last novel, The Dark Remains, was finished by another famous Scottish writer, Ian Rankin. It was released in September 2021.

There is even a special award named after him, called The McIlvanney Prize. It is given by Bloody Scotland for the best Scottish crime novel.

Awards and Recognition

William McIlvanney received many awards for his writing:

• 1967 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for Remedy is None
• 1968 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for A Gift from Nessus
• 1975 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for Docherty
• 1975 Whitbread Award for Best Novel for Docherty
• 1977 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction for Laidlaw
• 1983 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction for The Papers of Tony Veitch
• 1990 Glasgow Herald People's Prize for Walking Wounded
• 1990 BAFTA (screen adaptation): "Dreaming"
• 1992 Glasgow Herald People's Prize for Strange Loyalties
• 1992 Scottish Arts Council awards for Surviving the Shipwreck and Strange Loyalties
• 1996 Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award for The Kiln
• 2013 Saltire Society Fletcher of Saltoun Award for "outstanding contribution to Scotland's life and culture"
• 2013 Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for writing
• 2016 University of Glasgow posthumously awarded him an honorary doctorate (after his death).