Neil Gunn

Kirsten Matthews (University of Glasgow)
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From the publication of Neil Gunn’s first novel in 1926, he became an increasingly prominent figure in Scottish arts and Nationalist politics. Indeed, the two went hand-in-hand. The Scottish Renaissance headed by Hugh MacDiarmid in the 1920s, with which Gunn was associated, was a drive towards cultural renewal that could only be achieved through a heightened sense of national identity. Nevertheless, Gunn’s concern with Scottish Nationalism was accompanied by a deep commitment to the distinct identity of the Highlands. Gunn’s use of Highland landscape and culture in his fiction challenged stereotypes based on the Celtic melodrama made popular by writers such as William Sharp (“Fiona MacLeod”), and the “Celtic Twilight” …

4078 words

Citation: Matthews, Kirsten. "Neil Gunn". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 August 2005 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5937, accessed 29 March 2024.]

5937 Neil Gunn 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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