The Red Door: The Complete English Short Stories, 1949-76

by Iain Crichton Smith

Crichton Smith, Iain

Genres: Short Stories

678 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Iain Crichton Smith (Gaelic: Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn ) was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages. He is known for poetry, short stories and novels.

He was born in Glasgow, but moved to the isle of Lewis at the age of two, where he and his two brothers were brought up by their widowed mother in the small crofting town of Bayble, which also produced Derick S. Thomson. Educated at the University of Aberdeen, Crichton Smith took a degree in English, and after serving in the National Service Army Education Corps, went on to become a teacher.

He taught in Clydebank, Dumbarton and Oban from 1952, retiring to become a full-time writer in 1977, although he already had many novels and poems published. He was awarded an OBE in 1980.

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

71 shiners from Scotland’s finest Iain (no apologies, Mr. Banks), folding three collections (Survival Without Error, The Black and the Red, The Village) into one volume, with a smattering of uncollected pieces stretching as far back as 1949. Smith’s economy, elegant poetic prose, searing psychological insight, warmth, humour, and gentle mischievousness are what make his writing timeless. Ranging from slice-of-life realism to poetic wandering to fable-like fancies, these stories showcase a titan of Scottish letters at the peak of his panoramic prose powers. Essential reading for anyone seeking an unforgettable batch of short stories that leave the reader feeling warmer and wiser.

[Iain Watson]

The Red Door: The Complete English Short Stories, 1949-76 by Iain Crichton Smith (2002)