Suria Tei

Novelist, essayist, screenwriter and playwright who was Alasdair’s friend and former student.

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

Alasdair was one of the kindest and most generous persons I had met. As my tutor when I was on the creative writing course at the University of Glasgow, he selflessly gave his time, and shared his knowledge and experiences with me. He would spend long hours discussing literature and history of East and West with me, while we looked into the novel I was working on. Upon discovering my financial hardship, he helped me to acquire student funding. He did all these generously, sincerely, out of his enormously kind heart. How I have missed such a great man.

What have you done differently because of Alasdair?

He gave me confidence to work on my first novel, Little Hut of Leaping Fishes.

How does Alasdair continue to influence or inspire you?

I always remind myself to be kind and to give unconditionally.