The Red Cockatoo: James Kelman and the Art of Committment

The Red Cockatoo is the first full length study of the work of James Kelman to take full cognisance of the author’s political commitments and activism throughout his career. This book is published in partnership with The Drouth Magazine and traces the history and details of Kelman’s political writing and activism. Besides numerous novels Kelman has published two volumes of literary, social, historical and political criticism. He has also been unceasingly involved in political and human rights campaigns, manifestoes and demonstrations throughout his life. What exactly are Kelman’s politics: why are some readers still baffled and shocked by his standpoint? His stance on social and political issues has been widely criticised not only by ordinary readers, but by the Establishment in the form of Booker Prize judges, and others.