Iain Crichton Smith wrote short stories throughout his life. Some are fragments, others almost novellas, and the best of them all show him to be an author of unique sensitivity and intelligence. The pieces in this collection form a central part of his oeuvre, demonstrating the full range and vers...
Iain Crichton Smith's SCOTNOTE study guide is a skilful and intelligent guide to the themes and characters of the novel, and explores the religious, philosophical and moral questions that it poses. Suitable for senior school pupils and students of all ages.
It faced the street with its grey granite stone, and its old windows which in order to be cleaned had to be manoeuvred on ropes like glassy sails, and its greenish door on which passing boys and men had scrawled graffiti. There were six flats in the tenement, some in good condition, some in bad: ...
Though in fact it is not a letter but an explanation. I am as you know your village headmaster and you understand who and what I am. Or at least you understand me as far as anyone can understand anyone else. You know me as one who takes care of your children. You know me, I hope, as a dedicated m...
SAID ALISDAIR to Hugh and he pointed to the grey cat—it belonged to David Collins—which was carrying a baby rabbit in its mouth across the railway line. It padded along, looking neither to right nor to left, its fat body heavy and smoky, as if it was filled with grey water. They followed it acros...
She was plump, matronly, and efficient. In front of her on the desk Trevor noticed a bottle of pills. “I’m just back at work after an illness,” she said. “Well, then,” she went on, her voice becoming more brisk, “you’re looking for your brother. And you say he’s not dead.” She studied the documen...
‘What on earth has happened to you?’ said his mother. ‘These marks are getting worse and worse. I thought with your father teaching you English you might have done better.’ ‘He is not my father,’ Ralph shouted, ‘he is not my father.’ ‘Of course, having you in class is rather awkward but you shoul...
Nobody knew why he was called the Cook, though perhaps he might have been one in his youth when he was sailing the oceans on a merchant ship. He was an old man now, with a white beard and red cheeks, and he smoked a small stubby pipe. He was sitting on a bench outside his house when Iain called o...
First, there was the landing at Pula with Linda and her mother who, at eighty years old, had swollen legs and was suffering from kidney trouble. They landed in the evening, in the dim light, and saw a soldier with a machine gun strapped over his shoulder at the airport. The place seemed strange a...
said Tom to Vera, “inviting that bloody woman to the house. You know she’s practically crazy. None of the pupils like her. What put it into your head anyway?” “I was going to do a project on Joseph and his brothers,” said Vera, “and I thought she might be able to give me some ideas, some books.” ...