A slim volume in a series published by The Saltire Society. The cover is blue card with a black pen and ink drawing, by Gray of himself. The booklet consists of a short essay in two parts, either side of a 7-page history written by Alexander Gray, Alasdair's father, about his own father and other early memories. The booklet ends with a transcript of a 1982 interview with the BBC.

The pamphlet is interesting in the information it gives on Gray's background, family history and generally how Gray sees he got where he did. Despite the amount of not-quite-autobiography in his work, Gray is usually very reticent about his personal life.

Other Saltire Self-Portraits have included Hugh McDiarmid, Naomi Mitchison and Sydney Goodsir Smith.

BUY THIS BOOK
Alasdair Gray's books are sometimes difficult to get hold of. Where they are available, I have included links below to the amazon sites in the UK and the USA. Where a record is on their database, they will usually include links to used-book sellers who can offer the title, even if it is not available direct from amazon themselves.

Alternatively, you can try emailing Morag McAlpine, who can send you a list of available titles. She usually has a variety of out-of-print books, often signed, and also a selection of prints of Gray's artwork, also signed.