Independence: An Argument for Home Rule

by Alasdair Gray

Gray argues that a truly independent Scotland will only ever exist when people in every home, school, croft, farm, workshop, factory, island, glen, town and city feel that they too are at the centre of the world. Independence asks whether widespread social welfare is more possible in small nations such as Norway and New Zealand than in big ones like Britain and the U.S.A. It describes the many differences between Scotland and England. It examines the people who choose to live north of the border. It shows Scotland's relevance to the rest of the world. It attempts to conjure a vision of how a Scots parliament might benefit the people of this small but dynamic nation. And it tells how democracy will only truly succeed when every person believes that their vote will make a difference.

Genres: Politics, Scotland, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2014

About the author

Alasdair James Gray was a Scottish writer and artist. His first novel, Lanark (1981), is seen as a landmark of Scottish fiction. He published novels, short stories, plays, poetry and translations, and wrote on politics and the history of English and Scots literature. His works of fiction combine realism, fantasy, and science fiction with the use of his own typography and illustrations, and won several awards.

He studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1952 to 1957. As well as his book illustrations, he painted portraits and murals. His artwork has been widely exhibited and is in several important collections. Before Lanark, he had plays performed on radio and TV.

His writing style is postmodern and has been compared with those of Franz Kafka, George Orwell, Jorge Luis Borges and Italo Calvino. It often contains extensive footnotes explaining the works that influenced it. His books inspired many younger Scottish writers, including Irvine Welsh, Alan Warner, A.L. Kennedy, Janice Galloway, Chris Kelso and Iain Banks. He was writer-in-residence at the University of Glasgow from 1977 to 1979, and professor of Creative Writing at Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities from 2001 to 2003.

Gray was a civic nationalist and a republican, and wrote supporting socialism and Scottish independence. He popularised the epigram "Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation" (taken from a poem by Canadian poet Dennis Leigh) which was engraved in the Canongate Wall of the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh when it opened in 2004. He lived almost all his life in Glasgow, married twice, and had one son. On his death The Guardian referred to him as "the father figure of the renaissance in Scottish literature and art".

Reviews

[Jack Deighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many differences between Scotland and the more southerly parts of the British Isles. The geology differs between Scotland and England and land usage is more problematic - one of the factors which led to the Romans withdrawing from what they called Caledonia to behind Hadrian’s Wall. Different attitudes to education (deriving from a desire in mediæval England to keep the lower orders in their place, whereas the Scots valued an educated populace especially after the Reformation especially so that the people could read the Bible) persist to this day. Gray says, "When writer in residence at Glasgow University I was amused when a lecturer in English from Oxford or Cambridge told me, 'It is amazing that someone of your background knows as much about literature as we do.' Many Scots friends thought my learning considerable; none thought it strange I had it." The prospect of a generally poorer standard of living due to agricultural factors led many Scots with a good education to venture abroad.

This book is not an argument that only “indigenous” Scots ought to be allowed to have positions of influence here. Gray is clear about the difference between what he calls settlers who wish to make their lives in Scotland and colonists who will sweep in (and out again) in order to promote their careers. He gives examples. Glasgow European Capital of Culture hired English administrators who did not organise any festivals or exhibitions featuring local or even Scottish authors or artists since they were mostly ignorant of anything good that had been made here. At least two such appointees announced they knew little about Scottish culture but "looked forward to learning about it." Any such ignorance of English culture on the part of a Scottish administrator wishing to work in England would be laughable – and is difficult to imagine. Nor does Gray ignore the fact that many Scots did very well indeed out of the British Empire.

There is the occasional further barb, "one of those who were then reviled as middle men, and since Thatcher's time have been praised as entrepeneurs".

Gray’s argument is well set out but I doubt, in these times, it would convince any who are of an opposite persuasion.

[Dr. des. Siobhán · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overly polemic text that planned on swaying voters in Scotland just before the Indyref. Parts were fun, other parts a bit odd, verging on problematic. Reducing Scottish people to their shared history disregards everyone who has come to live in Scotland by choice or force, while also alienating vast parts of the population. Not smart. But funny in parts!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though explicitly written for the Independence Referendum of last September, this is also an interesting look through Scotland's - and indeed the British Isles' - history. Biased of course like all such works are one way or another, but at the same time alternative in presenting the stories behind the broad brush strokes that are generally accepted as History. The author is not someone who heralds the SNP as the saviour of the Scots people - who does? - but looks critically at their and other parties' acts in office. Plus as with all of his books, this is a well-written enjoyable read.

[Paula Livingstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little bit rambling and a little bit self indulgent, this book is perhaps a victim of being read well after the referendum but I really can not give it a third star.