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A provocative and timely reconsideration of modern Scottish literature in the light of ecological thought. Louisa Gairn demonstrates the contribution of successive generations of Scottish writers to the development of international ecological theory and philosophy. She revisits the works of Robert Louis Stevenson, John Muir, Nan Shepherd, John Burnside, Kathleen Jamie, and George Mackay Brown, among others, to reveal the significance of ecological thought across Scottish literary culture. By tracing the scientific, philosophical, and political influence of ecology on these writers, Gairn presents an original understanding of Scottish literature from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. In an age of environmental crisis, Ecology and Modern Scottish Literature points to a heritage of ecological thought that is of vital relevance to both Scottish literary culture and the wider field of green studies.
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Louisa Gairn ‘This is the first book-length study of one of the great themes in modern Scottish writing. Lucid, sophisticated and internationally-minded, it is a landmark work.’ Robert Crawford, University of St Andrews ‘In this groundbreaking study, Louisa Gairn establishes for the first time the central place of ecological thinking in the Scottish tradition, from the integrated social vision of Patrick Geddes through MacDiarmid with his ‘earth lyrics’ to contemporary writers like Kathleen Jamie and John Burnside. This is one of those rare critical studies that offers close readings of great writers while sustaining a clear and tense focus on the immediacy of the world around us.’ Professor Alan Riach, Department of Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow This book presents a provocative and timely reconsideration of modern Scottish literature in the light of ecological thought. Louisa Gairn demonstrates how successive generations of Scottish writers have both reflected on and contributed to the development of international ecological theory and philosophy. Provocative re-readings of works by authors including Robert Louis Stevenson, John Muir, Nan Shepherd, John Burnside, Kathleen Jamie and George Mackay Brown demonstrate the significance of ecological thought across the spectrum of Scottish literary culture. This book traces the influence of ecology as a scientific, philosophical and political concept in the work of these and other writers and in doing so presents an original outlook on Scottish literature from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Louisa Gairn holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews and is a contributor to The Edinburgh Companion to Contemporary Scottish Literature, ed. Berthold Schoene (Edinburgh University Press, 2007). She lives and works in Edinburgh. ISBN 978 0 7486 3311 1 Cover design: Cathy Sprent Edinburgh University Press 22 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LF www.eup.ed.ac.uk Edinburgh Cover image: Ripening Barley by Joan Eardley. Courtesy of The Scottish Gallery. © The Eardley Estate. Photography by John McKenzie. Louisa Gairn In this age of environmental crisis, Ecology and Modern Scottish Literature reveals a heritage of ecological thought which should be recognised as of vital relevance both to Scottish literary culture and to the wider field of green studies. ECOLOGY AND MODERN SCOTTISH LITERATURE ECOLOGY AND MODERN SCOTTISH LITERATURE ECOLOGY AND MODERN SCOTTISH LITERATURE Louisa Gairn Ecology and Modern Scottish Literature Ecology and Modern Scottish Literature Louisa Gairn Edinburgh University Press © Louisa Gairn, 2008 Edinburgh University Press Ltd 22 George Square, Edinburgh Typeset in Sabon and Futura by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Manchester, and printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham, Wilts A CIP record for this book is avai