Angus Calder
Maverick & Motivator

This issue looks at the packed life and work of Angus Calder, his influence on Scotland and the world, warts and all. Friends, family and colleagues speak from the head and the heart – Sheena Blackhall, Gowan Calder, Bashabi Fraser, Alasdair Gray, George Gunn, Christopher Harvie and others. Historian famous for The People's War and much else, critic, poet, agent provocateur, cricketer and curler, downright nuisance and profound inspirer, his life and death in 2008 both carry profound messages.

Also in 110: Colin Donati's masterly translation into wonderfully vivid and inventive Scots of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment; Danny Gillan (winner of the Undiscovered Authors Prize 2007) looks with affection and pathos at a day in the life of a drunk and Fritha Waters shows how graffiti can be put to unusual purposes. In 'Salvation Inn', John Grace employs Long

John Silver as 'mine host' to a host of novelistic ghosts and mayhem ensues. You can even play 'Bingo' with Max Scratchmann. In poetry, Kenneth Steven celebrates St Columba, Tobermory and nature in his uniquely lyrical style, Alan Riach explores Orkney, the island and its writers, Gerda Stevenson stalks the Borders and Ruth E Walker takes us into the wilds of Canada... Featured artist James Spence gives us magnificent landscapes from Scotland and Spain, boats, Arab waterwheels, bull fighters, wrestlers...