INSCRIBED TO ALASDAIR GRAY Grieve on Geddes

A work that brings together three distinguished Scottish polymaths: inscribed by the author on the first flyleaf: ‘To Alasdair Gray from Bob Grieve - you will find quotations from the main biographies in the Appendices. Blessings on the good work! March 1992.’ Near fine, just a little fading to the spine. A monograph by one distinguished Scotsman, about another, and inscribed to a third.

The pamphlet’s subject, Sir Patrick Geddes FRSE (2 October 1854 – 17 April 1932), was a biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is perhaps best known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and sociology. Robert Grieve (1910-1995) was another Scottish polymath, deeply engaged in urban planning; Alasdair Gray (1934-2019) is acknowledged as one of the most innovative figures in Scottish literature and culture. A painter, novelist, playwright, poet and editor, Gray often combined his diverse artistic talents within single works to challenge existing forms. The British Council’s biography of him describes how ‘Blending satire and tragedy, realism and fantasy, his work has been credited with spurring a renaissance in Scottish literature (Gray’s success anticipates that of James Kelman, Jeff Torrington and Irvine Welsh).’