Ian Rankin

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The Glasgow author said, he wanted to die, His body to science

Renowned Scottish author and artist Alasdair Gray , has confirmed His publishing.

The 85-year-old was known for novels such as Lanark (1981) and the award-winning Poor things (1992), both born in Glasgow, where he.

Its public wall paintings are visible over The City , with additional pieces on display in the V& A and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art .

He died on Sunday at The Queen Elizabeth hospital.

His Family said, he wanted His body to science so there would be no funeral.

'Extraordinary people'

the relatives released a statement through Mr Gray's publishing house Canongate. He said: "Early This Morning we lost a deeply beloved member of Our Family . Alasdair was an exceptional person, very talented and above all very human.

"He was unique and irreplaceable, and we miss Him very much. We would like to thank Alasdair's many friends for their love and support, especially in the last few years.

"Together with the staff of The Queen Elizabeth hospital, Glasgow, who treated Him and us with such care and sensitivity during His short illness. "

the death of the author comes on The Day after His 85th birthday. Birthday. Birthday.

Fellow author and friend of Ian Rankin told Bbc Scotland , Mr Gray was responsible for The Day -to-day Scottish life interesting on an international level.

He said: "He could be something very personal to Him - His origin, grew up in Glasgow, for Example - and make it that people wanted to read The World .

"He was a part of the thing about taking Scotland out of the kailyard, write, sort of misty stories of Highland villages.

"at once, in writing write about the things that meant things to be, politically, to write about their own experiences.

"were His books beautiful, you were made, you were elegant. He had a sense of Humor, he was mischievous, he had a great mind, but he was a 'mate of pairts' - he was a little bit of everything, and he has it's all good. "

Alasdair Gray , only one was described as "one of Scotland's literary giants"

Nick barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: "Scotland is blessed with a variety of great authors in the course of the last 50 Years , but if history recalls, it is likely to Alasdair Gray .

"He was a Bright Star in a bright constellation of the Northern Lights ; a game-changer, their boundless, innovative, cross-disciplinary thinking paved the way for so many others, successfully.

"We can has experienced to thank Alasdair, not only for His own great work, but for His role in creating the conditions for a literary renaissance, in so many different ways, changed the Most People is the understanding of what it means to be Scottish today. "

'His genius lives,'

Francis Bickmore, Gray's editor and publishing director at Canongate, said: "What sad news that Alasdair Gray is gone. It seems hard To Believe that Alasdair was mortal, and maybe to leave us.

"Not a single figure on the left of the page, such as a variety of legacy or many appointments - such as Alasdair Gray are missing.

"at least through Gray's phenomenal body of work, he will not survive, leaving behind a legacy for all of us. His voice of solidarity and compassion for His fellow citizens and His forward-looking vision, a cause for great celebration and remembrance. "

His agent, Jenny brown said: "We mourn the loss of Alasdair Gray 's, but His genius will live note to the reader through His work.

"He was a cultural pioneer: No One has done more to the track, and the confidence that the next generation of Scottish authors. "

he is One of the artists, the most famous wall painting covers the ceiling of the Oran Mor pub and restaurant in The West end of Glasgow.

A writer-in-residence at the University of Glasgow in the 1970s, Mr. gray was described as a "strong and close friend" of the University.

Lifetime achievement award

University rector professor Sir Anton Muscatelli , said: "Alasdair Gray was one of the greats of Scottish art and literature.

"It is with great sadness that we come to, on the occasion of His death, but also the many works he produced, from His great novel Lanark , the inspiring wall decoration images, that The City ensure that His legacy will live on for many years. "

Lord gray was a supporter of Scottish independence, writing independence: How We Should be prepared for the rule, which was published in June 2014 as Scotland after the independence referendum.

In June 2015, he was seriously injured in a fall at His home, the impact on His mobility, although he later returned to work.

Last month, the author received a lifetime achievement award from the Saltire Society for His services to Scottish literature.

Pauline McLean, Bbc Scotland arts correspondent

I know the the happiness, to Alasdair Gray since I was a student at the University of Glasgow in the 1980s.

My honors thesis on His work, including the recently published Lanark , we had to throw a spotlight on someone who, although he speaks of a scholar, from the most humble of backgrounds was never comfortable about yourself.

do you see yourself as a Scottish writer, or a London writer? a reporter for the London-based art program asked the Monitor in 1983.

Was to describe Dickens was asked to himself as an English writer or a London writer? This question, sir, that was unworthy of you, reply to Alasdair Gray with a grin.

But he goes to answer. "I would argue, to be everything I could in suspicion. Glasgow, Scottish, British, I am everything. "

This is also true for those who tried to pin Him as an artist or as a writer, you simply have to be placed together in The Other . Sometimes it was His art that sustained Him , as city recorder for Elspeth king at the People's Palace, so that a series of paintings that document the change of The City around Him .

still, Many know Him as The Creator of visual stories around your city, the wall paintings of the Oran Mor and Hillhead subway Station Among Others .

Alasdair Gray 's murals are in A Number of Glasgow locations

It is hard to describe what a revolutionary novel Lanark .

And The City , which he described in Lanark - both real and fantastic, inspired many other writers, artists, and readers to their own voices.

At 80, he found himself to His astonishment, in the middle of a photo shoot for a retrospective exhibition in various galleries in Glasgow, including the Kelvingrove, where he attended the art-classes, like a school boy.

For many people, it was a tribute to a titan of Scottish art and literature, which was long overdue. For the jobbing artist who made it, reminded of the countless commissions to feed His Family , he was very magnets confused by The Gift shop that you could buy, Lanark fridge.

A Fall In the year 2015, so that he was in intensive care for A Number of months. It meant he missed Lanark will be staged as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, but the visitor said to His night table to Him , about you, and it wasn't long before he began to work again,, translation of Dante.

The trilogy, for the Canongate, which he represented as Well as translated, was The First thing that he began the work when he returned home. When I visited last, he was deep in the work, and, Once Again , annoyed by the attention His accident, and the outpouring of affection for Him had caused. Painting and writing were connected, at that time, inseparably.

He was a brilliant artist and writer, the extraordinary art there is almost Every Day , what he believed, to a normal life. And I'm going to miss Him .

glasgow

Source of news: bbc.com