Ron Butlin – författare

Bleeters come and bleeters go,they never, never stay –if it’s not raining nowmore rain is on the way.It’s widely reported that Eskimos have over 50 words for snow. Given the equivalent ubiquity of rain in Britain’s northern climes, it is not surprising that Scots have coined just as many (and possibly many more) expressions for the many different types of precipitation that fall from our skies.In this book Ron Butlin introduces 50 of the most colourful Scottish words for rain in humorous and memorable verse, imaginatively accompanied with illustrations by Tim Kirby.

From the author of the award winning The Sound of My VoiceAfter being sacked from his day job as a business executive, Morris Magellan has cashed it all in – the house, the car, family life – to be free at last to pursue his true passion: music. He returns to his childhood home to escape city life, face his demons and compose his masterpiece. Very soon, things start to go wrong. Not only does his past catch up with him, but the future becomes more threatening by the day. Bad habits return with a vengeance. Then he meets Jess.Written with humour and compassion, this compelling novel, set in the Borders, sixties London and present-day Edinburgh, touches on music, love in later life and, most of all, how to make the most of one’s time before it is too late.

Morris Magellan wakes one morning to find himself stuck in a corporate job and living the suburban dream with a wife and two children, except this dream feels like a nightmare. Out of his depth and starting to drift from reality, we meet Morris at the precipice. Bit by bit he is losing his struggle with addiction – he just doesn’t know it yet. His only solace and escape from suburban family life and corporate duties is music and alcohol. His life is soundtracked with symphonies and concertos, every note, and every drink, carries him from moment to moment hoping to salvage something of himself before that too slips from his grasp.Harrowing but compellingly written, with humour and compassion, The Sound of My Voice is a stylistic masterpiece that presents conflict between a man’s cowardice and cruelty, and a desperate attempt to recover his humanity.

Longlisted: International Dublin Literary Award 2016Having been thrown out onto the Edinburgh streets by her family, Maggie knows she must fight to survive. Many years later, the struggles she had to endure can be kept a secret no longer.Set mostly in post-war Britain and inspired by a real-life story, Ghost Moon is narrated with humour and compassion. A life-affirming read.

Morris es un exitoso ejecutivo treintañero, con una esposa que lo ama y dos preciosos hijos. A la vez es un alcohólico esmerado, cuyo estado anímico oscila entre la elocuencia barata de las ideas ahogadas en alcohol y la depresión más asfixiante de los momentos en que percibe su propia realidad.Ron Butlin nos sacude en esta novela con uno de los retratos del alcoholismo más potentes jamás mostrados, haciéndonos ver con los ojos del protagonista y participando de sus conversaciones consigo mismo, o con su propia conciencia.La feliz sensación de la ebriedad que ahoga los pensamientos más molestos, nos dará la viñeta exacta de lo que es su vida: un trabajo enojoso, un hijo rechazado, un marido imposible, un padre inexistente.

Morris és un reeixit executiu de trenta anys, amb una dona que l''estima i dos preciosos fills. Alhora és un alcohòlic acurat, l''estat anímic del qual oscil·la entre l''eloqüència barata de les idees ofegades en alcohol i la depressió més asfixiant dels moments en què percep la seva pròpia realitat.Ron Butlin ens sacseja en aquesta novel·la amb un dels retrats de l''alcoholisme més potents mai mostrats, fent-nos veure amb els ulls del protagonista i participant de les converses amb si mateix, o amb la seva pròpia consciència.La feliç sensació de l''embriaguesa que ofega els pensaments més molestos, ens donarà la vinyeta exacta del què és la seva vida: un treball enutjós, un fill rebutjat, un marit impossible, un pare inexistent.Per aquesta obra ha obtingut el Premi Millepages i el Premi de les llibreries Lucioles a la millor novel·la estrangera.

'The Magicians of Edinburgh' is a poetic homage to the city of literature in the twenty-first century, drawn from poet Ron Butlin's experience as Edinburgh's Poet Laureate.

Following on from the runaway success of The Magicians of Edinburgh, renowned poet and novelist Ron Butlin conjures up Scotland’s past, present and future in this new collection. From Skara Brae and the Roman invasion to the independence referendum and beyond, the former Edinburgh Makar explores what Scotland means to itself and to the outside world.With his customary wit and insight, he takes a good hard look at some of its magicians – from James Hutton to Professor Peter Higgs, from Robert Burns to Dame Elizabeth Blackadder and even Tony Blair. Underlying all these poems is a deep love for Scotland’s uniqueness, and its magic!