The titles in the "Textplus" series, designed to reflect the changing nature of English Literature at advanced post-GCSE level, offer the complete text with a specially commissioned introduction and compact background notes placing the work in historical and critical context. Together, these components are intended to open up the text for students, allowing them to plot their own course of study, to plan extended projects, to compare writers' perspectives on similar themes and to relate works to key social and historical phenomena.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
William McIlvanney is one of Scotland's foremost writers whose award-winning novels include LAIDLAW, DOCHERTY, which won the Whitbread Award for Fiction, THE PAPERS OF TONY VEITCH, THE BIG MAN, which was made into a film starring Liam Neeson, STRANGE LOYALTIES, and THE KILN. He has also published a volume of short stories, WALKING WOUNDED, three books of poetry and a collection of essays and journalism, SURVIVING THE SHIPWRECK. He lives in Glasgow.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Julia Paul
Format:Paperback
I came to this book as a fan of Ian Rankin's writing as I had read he was influenced by this author. It's a fairly short book but I found I was reading it quite slowly to savour the one-liners (not always humorous)that pack a lot into a short space. For example, a drunk crossing a road as if it "was a river, and he was the only one who knew the stepping-stones". A migraine coming on "Like somebody playing croquet with my right eyeball."
All the characters are very well drawn and totally convincing, even the "bit-parts", and their characters could have been explored a bit more, but that would have slowed the pace of the book down.
Others have commented about how un-judgemental Laidlaw is. Towards the end of the book, his sidekick, Harkness, says that "the most certain thing about Laidlaw was his doubt".
I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Set in the gritty realism of Glasgow streets, this book deals with horrific murder and it's aftermath. It touches briefly on the lives of all the characters, namely the family of the murdered girl, the various factions of Police working the case, and the murderer himself. Like the pebble thrown into the pond the circles widen around him until all revolve around each other. Laidlaw and his different approach to Police work is the focal point of this book and brings some welcome relief to the whole grim and often bitter process. I liked Laidlaw for his refusal to "monsterise" the killer - he sees this as a total cop out by society. McIlvanney's biting social commentary put me in mind of Ruth Rendell at times. One quote (sorry, can't find it to quote it directly) that I found interesting, with referral to the murder victim's brutal father, was "What is bigotry if not unearned certainty?". Really left me with a lot to think about. And what is it about these Scots as great writers of Crime? I have to put William McIlvanney right up there with Ian Rankin and Val McDermid, and I look forward to many hours of pleasurable discomfort as I read more of his work.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
William McIlvanney's Laidlaw is an exciting and gripping detective story, which focuses on the charecter Detective Inspector Laidlaw. Inspector Laidlaw finds his life "as a wrack of paradox." Laidlaw is a complex and unique charecter who believes that "there are no monsters only people." in the world. "a believer in fidelity who was unfaithful, an active man who longed for understanding. McIlvanney keeps us interested in what is happening in the book with different and interesting charecters such as John Rhodes, Harkness, Milligian and Mason. A really enjoyable book that gets you thinking about the world today.
By BC
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not sure how this happened, but somehow I not only missed this book when it was first published, but also missed the other two books in the Laidlaw trilogy. Thank goodness, I've now filled that gap. At least, I have read Laidlaw and the other two are on order. Perhaps most important in these days of the instant fix followed by immediately forgetfulness, McIlvanney's writing is good that nowhere is there any hint that this was first published in 1977. Although few writers of that period have withstood the changes that have taken place in literary styling, McIlvanney is so accomplished that Laidlaw could have been written this year. Except that not many writers today are capable of producing work of this quality. Laidlaw is not only an outstanding crime novel, it is also an exceptional exploration of people struggling to keep their philosophical heads above the rising muddy tide of contemporary life. Unforgettable characters, crisp settings, sharp dialogue; not a wasted word.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this because Ian Rankin credits McIlvanney with injuring him. I love the Rebus series and I think this may be even better. I'm certainly going to get the other Laidlaw books. Highly recommended .
By col2910
Format:Paperback
Blurb.......TURN DOWN A GLASWEGIAN WHEN HE OFFERS YOU A DRINK, AND HE'LL BREAK YOUR LEGS..
Jack Laidlaw is no ordinary detective. But then Glasgow is no ordinary city. His methods are unorthodox. Some would say dangerously unorthodox.
There's nothing tidy or polite about him because there's nothing tidy or polite about his world. But he knows the city in all its moods; sometimes he seems to know it better than he knows himself.
But when he's given the job of hunting down the brutal killer of a young girl, Laidlaw begins to wonder. Because as the manhunt gathers pace it seems to him that the city is taking him deeper and deeper into its violent pulsing heart.....
I sought out this book after reading several pieces about it on the net and following it with some reviews from Amazon. Originally published in 1977, it won the CWA Silver Dagger Award, and has been tagged as the first novel of the Tartan Noir genre.
McIlvanney wrote two further novels with Laidlaw as the lead detective.
Jack Laidlaw
1. Laidlaw (1977)
2. The Papers of Tony Veitch (1983)
3. Strange Loyalties (1991)
The investigation has Laidlaw at odds with the detective leading the team, with his unorthodox approach exposing Glasgow's underbelly of seedy pubs and petty criminals. Laidlaw competes with local vigilantes to try and capture the killer before street justice is dispensed.
McIlvanney's characters slip into the vernacular of Scottish speech, often enough to flavour the book, without rendering the exchanges incomprehensible, something I've found when I tried reading James Kelman.
70's Glasgow, with Laidlaw, its bigots and lowlifes is well worth a visit.... Read more ›
Jack Laidlaw is no ordinary detective. But then Glasgow is no ordinary city. His methods are unorthodox. Some would say dangerously unorthodox.
There's nothing tidy or polite about him because there's nothing tidy or polite about his world. But he knows the city in all its moods; sometimes he seems to know it better than he knows himself.
But when he's given the job of hunting down the brutal killer of a young girl, Laidlaw begins to wonder. Because as the manhunt gathers pace it seems to him that the city is taking him deeper and deeper into its violent pulsing heart.....
I sought out this book after reading several pieces about it on the net and following it with some reviews from Amazon. Originally published in 1977, it won the CWA Silver Dagger Award, and has been tagged as the first novel of the Tartan Noir genre.
McIlvanney wrote two further novels with Laidlaw as the lead detective.
Jack Laidlaw
1. Laidlaw (1977)
2. The Papers of Tony Veitch (1983)
3. Strange Loyalties (1991)
The investigation has Laidlaw at odds with the detective leading the team, with his unorthodox approach exposing Glasgow's underbelly of seedy pubs and petty criminals. Laidlaw competes with local vigilantes to try and capture the killer before street justice is dispensed.
McIlvanney's characters slip into the vernacular of Scottish speech, often enough to flavour the book, without rendering the exchanges incomprehensible, something I've found when I tried reading James Kelman.
70's Glasgow, with Laidlaw, its bigots and lowlifes is well worth a visit.... Read more ›
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
McIlvanney's Mixed-up Maverick
William McIlvanney introduced us to his hard-bitten, maverick (but thoughtful) Glaswegian copper, Detective Inspector Jack Laidlaw in this 1977 tale of the urban underworld. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Keith M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a Who did it?
William McIlvanney's Laidlaw is an exciting and gripping detective story, which focuses on the charecter Detective Inspector Laidlaw. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2001
2.0 out of 5 stars
My opinion of Laidlaw
I found this book confusing in a way. It seemed to jump between chapters from one part of the story to another. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
A powerhouse crime thriller and much more
The first chapter sets the tone of the novel and is worth the price of the book on its own. It would make a complete and gripping short story if nothing was added to it. Read more
Published on 9 Oct 1999
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
