Auld Campaigner

Overview

In his day, Alexander Scott (1920-1989) was one of the most prominent of Scotland's poets, renowned for witty, passionate, vigorous poems - poems embodying his high ideals of poetic craftsmanship. His poems were also among the most entertaining of their time. Scott's achievement, however, stretched wider still. His poetry was the centerpiece of a lifetime's commitment to Scotland's literature and culture, a commitment which took many forms and was expressed in many ways. Scott took a lead in developing Scottish literature as a modern subject, laying the foundations for its present prominence in the Scottish academic scene. In addition, he was a dramatist, actor, anthologist, scholar, critic, editor, broadcaster, columnist, and controversialist. He was also active in many important and imaginative initiatives following the creation of the Scottish Arts Council in the 1960s. A unique personality, Alexander Scott embodied much that was vital in his country's post-war culture. In his story, the shape of modern Scotland emerges. This is the first major biography of a hugely influential figure in the Scottish literary scene in the 20th century. This book is the joint winner of the prestigious Scottish Research Book of the Year 2007 from the Saltire Society and the National Library of Scotland.