James Kelman was born in 1946 in Glasgow (UK), in the family of a baguette. At the age of fifteen he left school, worked as a pupil of a printing worker. He went to the United States with his family and returned to Scotland in 1972. He was interrupted by casual work, studied philosophy at the University of Stratclyde, then studied writing courses at the University of Glasgow. The first book of the future leading author of modern Scottish literature was published only in 1982 - it was a collection
more
James Kelman was born in 1946 in Glasgow (UK), in the family of a baguette. At the age of fifteen he left school, worked as a pupil of a printing worker. He went to the United States with his family and returned to Scotland in 1972. He was interrupted by casual work, studied philosophy at the University of Stratclyde, then studied writing courses at the University of Glasgow. The first book of the future leading author of modern Scottish literature was published only in 1982 - it was a collection of stories distinguished by the juiciness of the national language. The novels The Busconductor Hines (1984) and A Chancer (1985) were soon published. The writer gained fame after the appearance of the novels "Greyhound for Breakfast" (1987) and "A Disaffection" (1989), marked by national literary awards and approved criticism. Published in 1994, James Kelman’s novel “How It Was Late” was awarded the Booker Prize. For his collection of short stories “Good Times” (1998), he was named the best Scottish writer of the year. In 2001, his new novel “Translation of Deposition” was published, on which he worked for seven years. In addition, James Kelman is known as a screenwriter and playwright, he also taught at the universities of Texas, London and Glasgow.