The Saltire Society Literary Awards Ceremony 2012

On a cold and wintry November evening, Scotland’s literati came out to celebrate the best in Scottish culture, art and literature… 

The Saltire Society Literary Awards ceremony, held on St. Andrews Day 2012 brought together authors, publishers, Society members, friends and family, in a celebration of Scottish writing and publishing. Held at the National Library of Scotland, during Book Week Scotland 2012, the ceremony applauded the achievements of the best books of the year in Scottish History, Research and Literature. 

As the nippy darkness set in over the capital, preparations were made to welcome guests into the heart of the NLS. A sharp gust of icy wind introduced the arrival of each guest, but the chill of the November evening was soon banished by warm reunions, friendly chatter and a glass of wine. As old acquaintances were rekindled, and new ones founded, the call was made for the ceremony to begin, and after a short introductory welcome from the President of the Society, Magnus Linklater, the presentation of the awards began. 

A Military History of Scotland
E. Spiers, J. Crang &
M. Strickland
Edinburgh University
Press (April 2012)

The first award to be announced was the Scottish History Book of the Year award, presented by Professor Ted Cowan. The winning text, A Military History of Scotland by E. Spiers, J. Crang and M. Strickland, is a book praised for its thorough study of this vast and highly intriguing subject. Next was the award for the Scottish Research Book of the Year announced by Robin Smith, Head of Collections and Interpretation at the National Library of Scotland. The beautifully produced and illustrated Scotland: Mapping the Nation, written and edited by C. Fleet, C. Withers and M. Wilkes received this accolade, fighting off tough competition in a particularly strong year for Scottish research. 

Scotland: Mapping the Nation
C. Fleet, C. Withers & M. Wilkes
Birlinn Litd. (August 2012)

Then, a new addition to the ceremony, the Ross Roy Medal for the best PhD thesis submitted to a participating University on a subject relating to Scottish literature, was awarded to Dr. Corey Gibson who gained his PhD at Edinburgh University for a thesis on Hamish Henderson. He is now developing this project as a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at Edinburgh under the title 'The Voice of the People: Hamish Henderson and Cultural Politics in Scotland'.

After the applause and congratulatory cheers had dissipated, the moment had arrived for the announcement of the Saltire Society’s First Book of the Year and Book of the Year award winners. The most popular and, in the case of the Book of the Year, longest running, of the Society’s awards, the First Book and Book of the Year are always surrounded by a hue of controversy, and this year, particularly for the latter of the two awards, was no exception.

With previous winners including Jackie Kay, Ali Smith and Louise Welsh, the First Book of the Year holds a significant and prestigious place within contemporary Scottish writing and many of its winners go on to have hugely successful careers as writers, journalists and poets. As the presenter of the award and literary panel judge Joyce McMillan highlighted in her introductory speech, the short list was particularly strong this year, with first novels from some wonderful and exciting voices. 

The Last Highlander Sarah Fraser
Harper Press (May 2012)

The moment arrived to reveal who had won the First Book of the Year Award and would forever be placed within the Saltire Society’s literary hall of fame. The President of the Society, Magnus Linklater, announced the winner of the award: The Last Highlander by Sarah Fraser. The wonderfully written biography depicts the life of Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, leader of Clan Fraser and the last British aristocrat to be beheaded in 1747. Ms. Fraser was delighted, humbly walking to the stage as if overwhelmed by the popularity of her book amongst the literary panel judges. She acknowledged how it was an honour to be shortlisted, and to win was ‘simply amazing’. Fraser noted how, while not a ‘premier league historical figure’ Simon Fraser’s story was fascinating, and important in understanding the Jacobean era. The audience were fascinated by Ms. Fraser, and applauded the success of a strikingly written piece of research getting the recognition it richly deserved. 


‘the Saltire Society Literary Awards... could not be a better advertisement for Scottish writing’

Once the applause had died down, the audience muted to a pointed silence as the chair of the literary award judging panel Professor Ian Campbell took to the stage to announce the short list of the final, and arguably most anticipated, award of the evening: the Saltire Society’s Book of the Year. All eyes were on Professor Campbell as he spoke of the ‘freshness and zest’ of both ‘new and seasoned writers’ and he celebrated the excellence in contemporary Scottish writing, noting how the Saltire Society’s literary award short lists and winners, ‘could not be a better advertisement for Scottish writing’.

Acknowledging that the quality of the short list meant there was never a clear winner, stating that ‘minds were changed [and] people opened up to books they did not initially warm to’, Professor Campbell reiterated the predicament facing the judges this year: how were they to choose just one Book of the Year? The answer came in the form of a much respected, and well established, Scottish literary voice. James Kelman’s latest novel Mo Said She Was Quirky was awarded the Saltire Society Book of the Year award for its innovative and unique style. The novel, told entirely through a twenty-four hour interior monologue of the female protagonist, Helen, illustrates 'the rich pattern of Kelman’s prose as the reader comes to recognise the extraordinary range of thought, memory, observation, empathy, hope and fear that Helen experiences in day-to-day life'. Mo Said She Was Quirky was, for the panel, a ‘true work of art, full of surface simplicity and deep beauty’. 

Mo Said She Was Quirky
James Kelman
Hamish Hamilton (Aug 2012)

With the announcement of Kelman’s win, the audience began an enthusiastic applause. As Kelman made his way to the front of the room to take his position on the stage, many friends, colleagues and fans patted his shoulders as he turned to greet friendly, congratulatory faces. All eyes were on Kelman, as he leaned against the podium and brought his face close to the microphone. After a few beats, in which a wave of silence fell across the room like a thick fog, Kelman began, stating how it was an ‘honour to be shortlisted with so many friends and colleagues’. After noting how the £5,000 award would be useful to his £15,000 writer’s income, and some knowing chuckles from the audience, Kelman began an impassioned speech on the the importance of education but the widespread lack of understanding and knowledge of Scottish culture and heritage. While his thoughts upon the state of contemporary Scottish culture and its promotion were fitting in the context of the Saltire Society Awards (the Society itself is dedicated to promoting, rewarding and strengthening Scotland’s cultural life), his use of strong language caused a stir amongst some unknown audience members who requested Kelman ‘moderate his language’, which not only instigated a fiery reaction from Kelman, but his friend and fellow nominee Aonghas MacNeacail bellowed from the back of the room that his friend and colleague was ‘entitled to his anger’. Despite this confrontation, Kelman was clear in his feelings towards maintaining and promoting Scottish culture. Emphasising that when he used the pronoun ‘our’, he was talking of the entire Scottish nation, everyone in the room and everyone who cared about Scottish culture, Kelman ended his speech noting that he strongly felt that ‘our culture is as rich as any culture and it’s shocking we have to discover ourselves’. There was a moment of silence as Kelman slowly made his way away from the podium, the audience absorbed his last words and broke into uproarious applause as Kelman walked back to his friends and family. 

James Kelman on the evening of his Book of the Year win
30/12/12
Photograph courtesy of The Scotsman.

It was at this point that Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop MSP, who was there to present that awards to each winner, took to the podium to congratulate all of the winners for their success this year. She carried on to say she recognised the importance of events like the Saltire Society Literary Awards ceremony in celebrating Scottish arts and culture, observing that Kelman’s impassioned speech reiterated the importance of such topics in the hearts and minds of the Scottish nation. 

To conclude, recently appointed Executive Director, Jim Tough, took to the podium to thank his guests, staff and the NLS for making the evening a significant and successful one. He commented on the strength of the Saltire Society’s history and traditions, but noted that the Society was in the midst of some changes and developments in order to bring its significance to the forefront of the Scottish cultural world in future years. One such development was the introduction of a new award for Scottish Publisher of the Year award, which, in collaboration with Publishing Scotland, will be included in the 2013 Saltire Society award season. This revelation was greeted with instantaneous applause from the audience, which included many editors and representatives from some of Scotland’s most successful publishers. 

The Saltire Society Literary Awards of 2012 were an eventful celebration of Scottish literature and culture, and encapsulated the excitement and passion many people, the Saltire Society and its members included, feel towards the promotion and encouragement of the best of Scottish culture, arts and heritage.





More information about the shortlisted novels can be found here.

About The Saltire Society

The Saltire Society was founded in 1936 to encourage everything that might improve the quality of life in Scotland and restore the country to its proper place as a creative force in Europe. It seeks to preserve all that is best in Scottish tradition and to encourage new developments which can strengthen and enrich the country's cultural life. It has wide ranging interests including architecture, arts and crafts, civil engineering, history, literature, music and science - and promotes excellence in many fields through a series of national awards.