Centenary Issue: A Party Between Two Covers, Part 2 of 3

4/5 ( ratings)

Chapman 102-3; A Party Between Two Covers: The Party Continues! is the centenary party in full swing with the usual selection of surprises, intrigues and general mayhem. Chapman 102-3 celebrates William Neill, here appreciated at last in articles by Colin Donati and Brent Hodgson plus Willie’s essays reprinted from earlier Chapmen. We also revisit articles from Chapman 35-6 by George Byatt, Carl MacDougall, Aonghas MacNeacail and Joyce McMillan, and we remember Ian Abbot, tragically killed in 1988, in a retrospective by Alexander Hutchison and some unpublished poems. But the emphasis as ever is new writing: – Valerie Gillies, Matthew Fitt, Robert Alan Jamieson and Maureen Sangster and many others. There’s a naughty haiku section , unpublished work by George Bruce and George Mackay Brown plus the latest from the pens of John Clifford, , George Gunn, W.N. Herbert, Tom Leonard, Christine de Luca…

From world literature comes translations from Yehuda Amichai, Goethe and Pablo Neruda. Illustrations courtesy of Colin Dunbar, Simon Kidd and Shona Dougall. John Bellany, one of Scotland’s most renowned painters, is our featured artist. Our presentation of his work includes unpublished paintings in stunning full colour – a first for Chapman. The entire celebration – parts 1, 2 and 3 – is a milestone unparalleled in Scottish literature and a major achievement for a magazine. Rarely has a centenary been celebrated in such style.