Francis Bickmore

Publisher at Large, Canongate Books. Alasdair’s editor from 2008.

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

Audio transcript

Generosity! It’s part of his vision. It’s like… if we’re going to imagine something better it’s got to be for everyone. Everyone’s invited.

Technicolour! There’s something… maybe it’s to do with the palette he uses but just… being in his presence. It was a very colourful experience to be around him, wasn’t it? You know, you felt like life… grey life… suddenly became… technicolour.

Innocence is in there. There’s a very beguiling… not naivety exactly. But yeah, maybe a bit of naivety of the sort of… utopian thinking innocence. Simply being kind to people if you can. The principles of his philosophy were… tell the truth. Be good. It’s the stuff you would teach people in primary school! That sense of innocence I think, is very intrinsic. Even when describing you know… sexual fetishes.

How does Alasdair continue to influence or inspire you?

Alasdair treated all people equally, with kindness and respect, whether he agreed with them or not. That’s something I am consistently inspired by.

Anything else about Alasdair you’d like to add?

It can feel belittling to exist in the folds of global capitalism, with its giant structures and movements. Alasdair’s life was a reminder that we are at our best when standing with our community. Neighbourliness enlarges us.