William McIlvanney's Books

Laidlaw

By: William McIlvanney

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First in “a crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind” (Christopher Brookmyre, international bestselling author). The Laidlaw novels, a groundbreaking trilogy that changed the face of Scottish fiction, are credited with being the founding books of the Tartan Noir movement that includes authors like Val McDermid, Denise Mina, and Ian Rankin. Says McDermid of William McIlvanney: “Patricia Highsmith had taken us inside the head of killers; Ruth Rendell tentatively explored sexuality; with No Mean City, Alexander McArthur had exposed Glasgow to the world; Raymond Chandler had dressed the darkness in clever words. But nobody had ever smashed those elements together into so accomplished a synthesis.” In Laidlaw, the first book of the series, readers meet Jack Laidlaw, a hard-drinking philosopher-detective whose tough exterior cloaks a rich humanity and keen intelligence. Laidlaw’s investigation into the murder of a young woman brings him into conflict with Glasgow’s hard men, its gangland villains, and the moneyed thugs who control the city. As the gangsters running Glasgow race Laidlaw for the discovery of the young woman’s killer, a sense of dangerous betrayal infests the city that only Laidlaw can erase. “From the opening chapter of Laidlaw, I knew I’d never read a crime novel like this.” —Val McDermid, international bestselling author “It’s doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney’s Laidlaw.” —Ian Rankin, New York Times–bestselling author “Laidlaw is a tough novel, with an exciting ending, and it is superbly written. You should not miss this one.” —The New York Times “A classic of the genre.” —The Guardian

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Page Count

213

Publisher

Europa Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609452127

ISBN 13

9781609452124

Strange Loyalties

By: William McIlvanney

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Strange Loyalties

By: William McIlvanney

THE THIRD IN THE ORIGINAL LAIDLAW TRILOGY THE DARK REMAINS, Laidlaw's first case, out 2 September 2021. PRE-ORDER NOW! 'The Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones' Mark Billingham 'It's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw' Ian Rankin When his brother dies stepping out in front of a car, Jack Laidlaw is determined to find out what really happened. Laidlaw begins an emotional quest through Glasgow's underworld, and into the past. He discovers as much about himself as about the brother he has lost, in a search that leads to a shattering climax. Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.

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Page Count

327

Publisher

Canongate Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

085786999X

ISBN 13

9780857869999

The Big Man

By: William McIlvanney

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The Big Man

By: William McIlvanney

AS SEEN IN THE MOTION PICTURE STARRING LIAM NEESON The big man is Dan Scoular, a legend of physical prowess in a decaying Ayrshire mining community. When a bare-knuckle fight offers both money and a purpose, he finds it turns into a monumental struggle to keep his heritage and integrity intact.

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209

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Canongate Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1782111956

ISBN 13

9781782111955

Docherty

By: William McIlvanney

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Docherty

By: William McIlvanney

At the end of 1903, in a tough, working-class town in the West of Scotland, Tam Docherty's youngest son, Conn is born. Tam is determined that life and the pits c won't swallow up his boy the way it has him. Courageous and questioning, Docherty emerges as a leader of almost indomitable strength, but in a close-knit community tradition is a powerful opponent.

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372

Publisher

Sceptre

Published Date

ISBN 10

0340936347

ISBN 13

9780340936344

A Gift from Nessus

By: William McIlvanney

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A Gift from Nessus

By: William McIlvanney

Another harsh, beautiful noir from the writer who influenced a generation of Scottish crime fiction Eddie Cameron is a salesman for Rocklight Ltd., an electrical equipment firm in Glasgow, where he has been fiddling the firm's expenses. Eddie's life is in tatters--his wife hates him, and his violent temper has left his mistress teetering on the edge of sanity.

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223

Published Date

ISBN 10

1851583262

ISBN 13

9781851583263

Laidlaw

By: William McIlvanney

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Laidlaw

By: William McIlvanney

The sometimes savage and always dreary back streets of Glasgow provide the setting for Detective Inspector Laidlaw's careful infiltration of the city's underworld

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224

Publisher

Harcourt

Published Date

ISBN 10

015648109X

ISBN 13

9780156481090

Laidlaw

By: William McIlvanney

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Laidlaw

By: William McIlvanney

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213

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Europa Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609452127

ISBN 13

9781609452124

The Big Man

By: William McIlvanney

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The Big Man

By: William McIlvanney

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209

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Canongate Books

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ISBN 10

1782111956

ISBN 13

9781782111955

Strange Loyalties

By: William McIlvanney

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Strange Loyalties

By: William McIlvanney

The third Laidlaw novel from the Father of Tartan Noir explores “the ruin of the body, the corruption of the soul and the shattering of society” (The Wall Street Journal). Strange Loyalties begins with Jack Laidlaw’s despair and anger at his brother’s death in a banal road accident. But his nagging doubts about the dynamics of the incident lead to larger questions about the nature of pain and injustice and the greater meaning of his own life. He becomes convinced there is more to his brother’s death. His investigations will lead to a confrontation with his own past and a harrowing journey into the dark Glasgow underworld. The Laidlaw books are widely considered to be among the greatest achievements of Scottish crime writing and the founding novels of what has since become known as the school of Tartan Noir that includes authors like Val McDermid, Denise Mina, and Ian Rankin. “This extraordinary and beautifully written novel . . . sets a high standard among contemporary thrillers. . . . Strange Loyalties, like its detective hero, is captivating and unforgettable.” —Publishers Weekly Praise for William McIlvanney and the Laidlaw series “A crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind.” —Christopher Brookmyre, international bestselling author “The Laidlaw books are like fine malt whiskey—the pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing.” —Peter May, international bestselling author “Fastest, first and best, Laidlaw is the melancholy heir to Marlowe. Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city.” —Denise Mina, award-winning author of Conviction

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272

Publisher

Europa Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609452631

ISBN 13

9781609452636

The Dark Remains

Laidlaw's First Case

By: William McIlvanney,Ian Rankin

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The Dark Remains

Laidlaw's First Case

By: William McIlvanney,Ian Rankin

In this prequel to the hit series, Glasgow’s gritty detective probes the murder of a gangland lawyer as tensions rise in the city’s underworld. Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong kind of people. When his body is found in an alley behind a pub that is known to be under the protective wing of a local crime boss, the fragile equilibrium that has been keeping Glasgow relatively safe for months is shattered. Besides a distraught family and any number of powerful friends, Carter has left behind his fair share of enemies. So who is responsible for his death? DC Jack Laidlaw’s reputation precedes him. He’s not a team player, but he’s got a sixth sense for what’s happening on the streets. His boss chalks Carter’s death up to the usual rivalries, but Laidlaw knows it can’t be that simple. As two Glasgow gangs go to war, he needs to find Carter’s killer before the whole city explodes . . . Award-winning author William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw’s first case. New York Times–bestselling author Ian Rankin has finished what McIlvanney started. Here, in The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw’s relentless quest for truth. Praise for The Dark Remains Winner of the 2022 British Book Award for Crime & Thriller Book of the Year “Fantastic—like witnessing Scottish noir’s Big Bang creation in the company of its greatest living exponent . . . Like Maradona and Messi playing in the same team.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Jack Reacher thrillers “Jack Laidlaw is the quintessential crime fiction protagonist, and Ian Rankin delivers a wholly satisfactory homage.” —Irish Times “The writing here is so sharp nearly every sentence could split open a haggis.” —The Washington Post “The world McIlvanney and Rankin create—there’s no indication of who wrote what, and readers will be hard-pressed to tell—is deliciously fluid in its conflicts.” —Kirkus Reviews “A brilliant read: gritty, atmospheric, and menacing.” —Mystery Scene Magazine

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198

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Europa Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609457188

ISBN 13

9781609457181

The Dark Remains

The Sunday Times Bestseller and The Crime and Thriller Book of the Year 2022

By: Ian Rankin,William McIlvanney

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The Dark Remains

The Sunday Times Bestseller and The Crime and Thriller Book of the Year 2022

By: Ian Rankin,William McIlvanney

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Fantastic' Lee Child 'Absolutely brilliant' Mick Herron If the truth's in the shadows, get out of the light . . . Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter's left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow? DC Jack Laidlaw's reputation precedes him. He's not a team player, but he's got a sixth sense for what's happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes. William McIlvanney's Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw's first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw's relentless quest for truth.

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195

Publisher

Canongate Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1838854126

ISBN 13

9781838854126

The Papers of Tony Veitch

By: William McIlvanney

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The Papers of Tony Veitch

By: William McIlvanney

Jack Laidlaw returns in the groundbreaking series. “The Laidlaw books are like fine malt whiskey—the pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing” (Peter May, international bestselling author). In this second book in his monumental Laidlaw series, McIlvanney tells the tale of Eck Adamson, an alcoholic vagrant who summons Jack Laidlaw to his deathbed. Probably the only policeman in Glasgow who would bother to respond, Laidlaw sees in Eck’s cryptic last message a clue to the murder of a gangland thug and the disappearance of a student. With stubborn integrity, Laidlaw tracks down a seam of corruption that runs through all levels of Glaswegian society. “Excellent . . . McIlvanney, the undisputed grandfather of tartan noir, gives reader a complex, existential hero struggling to right myriad wrongs.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The good news is that Laidlaw is back.”—The Observer Praise for William McIlvanney and the Laidlaw series “A crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind.” —Christopher Brookmyre, international bestselling author “Fastest, first and best, Laidlaw is the melancholy heir to Marlowe. Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city.” —Denise Mina, award-winning author of Conviction “Compelling . . . McIlvanney lays bare the soul of Glasgow, capturing every nuance of its many voices.” —Alex Gray, author of the DCI Lorimer novels “Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional. McIlvanney is the razor king of Scottish crime writing.” —Gordon Ferris, author of the Douglas Brodie Investigations

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Page Count

229

Publisher

Europa Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609452380

ISBN 13

9781609452384

Robert Louis Stevenson

A Literary Life

By: William Gray

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Robert Louis Stevenson

A Literary Life

By: William Gray

More than most writers, Robert Louis Stevenson requires a Literary Life. Fascination with Stevenson's life (the 'Stevenson biography' is almost a minor genre) has tended to eclipse his literary achievement. This study focuses on Stevenson's writing practice within the different geographical, cultural and political contexts that shaped it, from Scotland to the South Seas. Following Stevenson's own views on biography, the book is not structured primarily in terms of chronology, but is more a kind of literary geography than traditional literary history.

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Page Count

207

Publisher

Springer

Published Date

ISBN 10

0230510345

ISBN 13

9780230510340

The World Cup as World History

By: William D. Bowman

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The World Cup as World History

By: William D. Bowman

The World Cup as World History uses football’s premier event to analyze modern sports and world history. William D. Bowman traces the history of a tournament that has become a global phenomenon that generates intense political, economic, and cultural interest and profound discussions about racial, ethnic, and gender identity in the contemporary era. By focusing on the World Cup, the book keeps a tight thematic focus that allows for an integrated discussion of the core issues of globalization, money and finance, sport as spectacle, race and gender, and contemporary politics.

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Page Count

225

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1442267208

ISBN 13

9781442267206

Lewis Grassic Gibbon

By: William K. Malcolm

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Lewis Grassic Gibbon

By: William K. Malcolm

Set against an informed account of James Leslie Mitchell's life and times, this study provides a comprehensive appraisal of the canon of a combative writer who, as Lewis Grassic Gibbon, has attained a popularity unparalleled in his native Scotland, finally offering a fresh analysis of the unique achievement of a modernist writer whose verve and trenchancy firmly establish him as one of the foremost fiction writers of his time.

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Page Count

192

Publisher

Writers and Their Work

Published Date

ISBN 10

1789620627

ISBN 13

9781789620627

The Mystery Fancier

An Index to Volumes I-XIII, November, 1976-Fall, 1992

By: William F. Deeck

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The Mystery Fancier

An Index to Volumes I-XIII, November, 1976-Fall, 1992

By: William F. Deeck

A bibliography of various mystery novels published between November 1976 and Fall 1992.

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Page Count

186

Publisher

Wildside Press LLC

Published Date

ISBN 10

0941028119

ISBN 13

9780941028110

The Evangelical Counter-Enlightenment

From Ecstasy to Fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the 18th Century

By: William R. Everdell

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The Evangelical Counter-Enlightenment

From Ecstasy to Fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the 18th Century

By: William R. Everdell

This contribution to the global history of ideas uses biographical profiles of 18th-century contemporaries to find what Salafist and Sufi Islam, Evangelical Protestant and Jansenist Catholic Christianity, and Hasidic Judaism have in common. Such figures include Muḥammad Ibn abd al-Waḥhab, Count Nikolaus Zinzendorf, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Israel Ba’al Shem Tov. The book is a unique and comprehensive study of the conflicted relationship between the “evangelical” movements in all three Abrahamic religions and the ideas of the Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment. Centered on the 18th century, the book reaches back to the third century for precedents and context, and forward to the 21st for the legacy of these movements. This text appeals to students and researchers in many fields, including Philosophy and Religion, their histories, and World History, while also appealing to the interested lay reader.

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Page Count

449

Publisher

Springer Nature

Published Date

ISBN 10

3030697622

ISBN 13

9783030697624

Docherty

By: William McIlvanney

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Docherty

By: William McIlvanney

Winner of the Whitbread prize, by one of Scotland's greatest living novelists Tam Docherty's youngest son, Conn, is born at the end of 1903 in a small working-class town in the west of Scotland. Tam will stop at nothing to make sure that life and the pits don't swallow up his boy, the way it did him. Courageous and questioning, Docherty emerges as a leader of almost unshakable strength, but in a close-knit community tradition is a powerful opponent.

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