Episodes
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Childhood Favourites: Shared memories
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Monday Apr 22, 2019
Alasdair describes his early appearance on BBC Scotland's Children's Hour and he and his sister Mora (my mother) reminisce about favourite childhood books, comics and radio programmes.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I'd love to hear them - so please do leave a comment.
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Childhood Favourites: Alice in Wonderland
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Alasdair explains to his sister Mora (my mother) why Tenniel refused to work for Charles Dodgson again after illustrating the Alice books and rereads the beginning of this children’s classic.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Unlikely Stories: The Star
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Sunday Apr 28, 2019
Alasdair rereads The Star to his sister Mora, my mother. It's one of his best loved short stories and her own personal favourite.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Unlikely Stories Mostly by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday May 13, 2019
Childhood Favourites: More Alice in Wonderland
Monday May 13, 2019
Monday May 13, 2019
Alasdair rereads chapter two of Alice in Wonderland – for those of us who enjoyed chapter one and want to hear a little bit more.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday May 13, 2019
Poor Things: Chapters 4 & 5
Monday May 13, 2019
Monday May 13, 2019
Alasdair introduces his Gothic novel Poor Things and rereads chapters four and five - A Fascinating Stranger and Making Bella Baxter.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Poor Things by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Friday May 31, 2019
Gothic Novels: Nightmare Abbey
Friday May 31, 2019
Friday May 31, 2019
Alasdair describes the concept of the Gothic novel and rereads the first chapter of Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock. This satirical novella was originally published in 1818 and was among the many influences on Alasdair's own Gothic novel Poor Things.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Sunday Jun 16, 2019
Unlikely Stories: The Crank That Made The Revolution
Sunday Jun 16, 2019
Sunday Jun 16, 2019
Alasdair rereads his short story The Crank That Made The Revolution from Unlikely Stories Mostly. Very clever, very poignant and very funny!
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Unlikely Stories Mostly by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Gothic Novels: Northanger Abbey
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Monday Jul 01, 2019
Alasdair rereads excerpts from Jane Austen's first novel Northanger Abbey - where Austen pokes gentle fun at the attributes and experiences of the typical romantic heroine together with the craze for everything ghastly and Gothic.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Poor Things: Wedderburn’s Letter
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Alasdair rereads the beginning of Duncan Wedderburn’s hysterical (and hysterically funny) letter to Godwin Baxter from his Gothic novel Poor Things.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Poor Things by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Gothic Novels: Influences & inspiration
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Alasdair talks about some of the work that influenced his Gothic novel Poor Things - from Thomas Love Peacock's Nightmare Abbey to Mel Brook’s film Young Frankenstein - and explains why he feels the opening of this book may be his best.
You'll hear that I incorrectly credit Gene Wilder as the director of Young Frankenstein in the podcast and Alasdair rightly sounds rather dubious!
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Childhood Favourites: The Box of Delights
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Alasdair rereads the beginning of John Masefield’s The Box of Delights – a book he mentions with great fondness in a number of podcasts and that he enjoyed as much at the end of his life as he did when he was a child. With many thanks to the copyright holders who very kindly gave us permission to reread this excerpt.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: The Box of Delights by John Masefield. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Childhood Favourites: Just So Stories
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Alasdair rereads excerpts from Just So Stories to his sister Mora (my mother) and they revisit Rudyard Kipling’s illustrations and rhymes – with one particular passage triggering thoughts of Jean Rhys and Eliot’s The Wasteland.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Other Worlds: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Alasdair rereads excerpts from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea – the first science fiction he ever read and a book that improved his geography as he followed the path of the Nautilus on a globe of the world.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Other Worlds: The Fall Of The House Of Usher
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Alasdair describes the terror he experienced as a child on first reading the stories of Edgar Allan Poe and rereads the start of one of his most famous works – The Fall Of The House Of Usher.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: The Fall Of The House Of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Oct 14, 2019
Other Worlds: The Imp Of The Perverse
Monday Oct 14, 2019
Monday Oct 14, 2019
Alasdair rereads another excerpt from the stories that so terrified him as a child and explains how Edgar Allen Poe’s The Imp Of The Perverse relates to Freud’s death wish.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: The Imp Of The Perverse by Edgar Allen Poe. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Other Worlds: Of Me And Others – New Kelvingrove
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Alasdair rereads the first part of his essay New Kelvingrove from Of Me And Others - in which he describes how childhood visits to Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum fuelled his imagination and aided his obsession with creating and escaping to other worlds.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Of Me And Others by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Dec 02, 2019
Other Worlds: The First Men On The Moon
Monday Dec 02, 2019
Monday Dec 02, 2019
Alasdair explains how H G Wells’s description of interplanetary conflict in The War Of The Worlds - informed by socialism and the brutality of the British Empire - quickly became a dominant narrative and rereads excerpts from the Wells novel that particularly impressed him - The First Men On The Moon.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: The First Men on the Moon by H G Wells. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Lanark: Epilogue
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Alasdair rereads an excerpt from the Epilogue of his novel Lanark - where the hero meets his author and argues against his forthcoming death.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Lanark by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Lanark: Chapter 44. End
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Alasdair rereads his own favourite excerpt from Lanark – Chapter 44. End. I first shared this podcast in memory of my beloved Uncle who left us on the 29th of December 2019. When I asked him why he had chosen this chapter he said "because it's the end and, I think, a rather good one". I'm so pleased to be able to say that Alasdair's own death - like his life - was a good one.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Lanark by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Lanark: Glasgow is a magnificent city…
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Alasdair rereads the passage from Chapter 22 of Lanark that includes his most quoted excerpt - where Thaw explains to his friend McAlpin why nobody notices the magnificence of the city they live in.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Lanark by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Childhood Favourites: Edward Lear & others
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Alasdair and his sister Mora (my mother) recite and reread Edward Lear’s limericks and nonsense rhymes – which leads them on to childhood quarrels, other favourite books and poems and the huge influence of author-illustrators on Alasdair’s own art.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Nonsense Omnibus by Edward Lear. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Childhood Favourites: Treasure Island
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Alasdair rereads the opening chapter of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure story, Treasure Island. Alasdair particularly admired the way Stevenson opened his novels and credited him with providing the model for the opening paragraph of his own novel, Poor Things.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Jun 22, 2020
Childhood Favourites: Treasure Island continued
Monday Jun 22, 2020
Monday Jun 22, 2020
Alasdair continues rereading Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Sadly there wasn’t time for him to finish the whole book! But I found it so gripping I had to borrow his copy and read to the end.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Unlikely Stories: The Trendelenburg Position
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Alasdair rereads his own choice of short story, the slyly sinister The Trendelenburg Position. It was originally published in 1993 and although Alasdair never owned a television - and only engaged with digital technology via his assistants - the story is surprisingly prescient and still seems relevant today.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Every Short Story 1951 - 2012 by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Poetry: The Unit
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
In 1993 Alasdair sent his sister Mora (my mother) a cassette tape in reply to one of her letters. On it he reads bits of his work he thinks she'll enjoy including this poem from 'In a Cold Room 1952 - 57' - the first of four verse sequences in Old Negatives.
I started recording Alasdair in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books. Mum mentioned the existence of this earlier recording after Alasdair's death and kindly allowed me to share it.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Old Negatives: 4 verse sequences by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Lanark: Chapter 41. Climax
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Friday Feb 19, 2021
In 1993 Alasdair sent his sister Mora (my mother) a cassette tape in reply to one of her letters. On it he reads bits of his work he thinks she'll enjoy - including this excerpt from the Climax of Lanark that’s clearly based on memories of spending time with his own son, Andrew.
I started recording Alasdair in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books. Mum mentioned the existence of this earlier recording after Alasdair's death and kindly allowed me to share it.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Lanark by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Lanark: Chapter 40. Provan
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
In 1993 Alasdair sent his sister Mora (my mum) a cassette tape in reply to one of her letters. He ends it with this excerpt from Lanark and an explanation of why he only included the miserable aspects of his childhood in the novel.
I started recording Alasdair in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books. Mum mentioned the existence of this earlier recording after Alasdair's death and kindly allowed me to share it.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Lanark by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Friday May 28, 2021
Unlikely Stories: Time Travel
Friday May 28, 2021
Friday May 28, 2021
In 1993 Alasdair sent his sister Mora (my mother) a cassette tape in reply to one of her letters. On it he reads the whole of this bitter-sweet short story Time Travel – which was published the same year with some revisions in Ten Tales Tall And True and later in Every Short Story.
I started recording Alasdair in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books. Mum mentioned the existence of this earlier recording after Alasdair's death and kindly allowed me to share it.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Ten Tales Tall And True by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Poetry: Old Negatives
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
In 1993 Alasdair sent his sister Mora (my mother) a cassette tape in reply to one of her letters. On it he reads some of her favourites poems - along with his own personal selection - from his collection Old Negatives (published the same year).
I started recording Alasdair in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books. Mum mentioned the existence of this earlier recording after Alasdair's death and kindly allowed me to share it.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray and Mora Rolley
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: Old Negatives: 4 Verse Sequences by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
1982, Janine: Chapter 11
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Alasdair Gray rereads an excerpt from Chapter 11 of his second novel 1982, Janine. This is Alasdair’s own choice of excerpt from what he felt was his best novel. And he continues reading until Jock’s breakdown and the multiple sections of typeface defeat even his ability to read aloud.
I made these recordings in what turned out to be the last year of my uncle's life - so I could spend more time with him and share with you the very great pleasure of sitting quietly at home with Alasdair listening to him read and talk about books.
You can find out more about the story behind Alasdair Gray rereads in A Gray Space a creative space inspired by Alasdair Gray.
I couldn't have made these podcasts without the help of my family and friends:
Alasdair Gray
David Thomas - technical advice and support
Berniya Hamie – closing piano
Matthew Robinson – rereads logos
Featured book: 1982, Janine by Alasdair Gray. You can follow @alasdairgrayrereads on Instagram for news, pictures and previews of upcoming episodes. And if you have any questions or thoughts to share I’d love to hear them – so please do leave a comment.