Lanark: A Life in Four Books (Canons Book 1)

Lanark is a novel that combines dreamlike fantasy with psychological realism. First published in 1981, it draws on influences including Dante, Blake, Joyce, Kafka, and Lewis Carroll. The story begins with a man waking on a train with no memory and seashells in his pockets. He arrives in an unusual city called Unthank, where the sun only partially rises and inhabitants mysteriously disappear. He names himself Lanark and meets various characters dealing with joblessness, alienation, and unusual illnesses. The narrative shifts in time to explore Lanark's earlier life in Glasgow, examining themes of humanity's difficulty with love and its persistent drive to continue trying. This edition includes an introduction by novelist Janice Galloway and "Gray's Tailpiece," an addendum by the author.