William McIlvanney was one of a group of writers who emerged in the 1970s to give urban Scotland, particularly Glasgow, a working-class voice in contemporary literature. His early novels, which include ‘Remedy Is None’ (1967), ‘Docherty’ (1975) and ‘The Big Man’ (1985), have a gritty edge and distinctively tough male heroes who are trapped by their class and surroundings. With ‘Laidlaw’ (1977), the first of a series of novels featuring Glasgow policeman Jack Laidlaw, he brought his masculine style into the realm of crime fiction and laid the foundations for the ‘Tartan Noir’ genre. Gillander’s, who is a great admirer of McIlvanney’s work, has created a beautifully composed image which shows the author in Clarks bar, one of his favourite pubs.