Personal perspectives on Alasdair Gray’s ‘Lanark’

Thu Mar 12 2026 at 05:30 pm to 06:30 pm UTC+00:00

National Library of Scotland | Edinburgh

National Library of Scotland
Publisher/HostNational Library of Scotland
Personal perspectives on Alasdair Gray\u2019s \u2018Lanark\u2019
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How did Alasdair Gray's life become the source material for his iconic novel, ‘Lanark'?
About this Event

How did Alasdair Gray's life become the source material for his iconic novel, ‘Lanark'?

Katrina Rolley, the niece of Alasdair Gray, in conversation with BBC Arts Correspondant Pauline McLean, will offer a unique window into the making of a Scottish classic.Focusing on materials in the National Library’s Alasdair Gray archive, this talk will provide insights into how Alasdair Gray used his own life as source material for his work.

Katrina will also share personal perspectives on her uncle and his iconic novel - including memories of attending the ‘Lanark’ launch party and family versions of some key moments in the story.



About the speaker

Katrina Rolley is a writer and digital creative. She occasionally assisted her uncle and, during the last year of his life, they made a series of recordings together called ‘Alasdair Gray Rereads’. She now runs a collaborative creative project ‘A Gray Space’ inspired by her uncle.

Pauline McLean is BBC Scotland’s arts correspondent. She has covered the Scottish cultural scene for three decades on television, radio and online.




When you book an event, your personal information will be held and used by the National Library of Scotland and our third-party suppliers for the purposes of allowing you to attend the event and for audience research. For more information, visit the National Library of Scotland privacy pages, in particular the events notice and feedback and complaints notice. We expect attendees to behave respectfully towards presenters, guests and other audience members.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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