Duncan Glen
Encyclopedia
Professor Duncan Munro Glen (11 January 1933 – 20 September 2008) was a Scottish
poet, literary editor and Emeritus Professor of Visual Communication at Nottingham Trent University
. He became known to the literary world through his first full-length book, "Hugh MacDiarmid and the Scottish Renaissance". He published many collections of poetry, from "Kythings and other poems" (1969), "In Appearances" (1971) and "Realities Poems" (1980) to "Selected Poems 1965-1990" (1991), "Selected New Poems 1987-1996" (1998) and "Collected Poems 1965-2005" (2006). His "Autobiography of a Poet" was published by Ramsay Head Press in 1986. He edited Akros magazine through 51 numbers from August 1965 and did much to promote Scottish poets and artists. He was a friend and early champion of Hugh MacDiarmid
and Ian Hamilton Finlay
among others, and produced several volumes of poetry, some of which was translated into Italian
.
Glen was born in Westburn, Cambuslang
, South Lanarkshire
, Scotland
, the son of a white collar worker in The Steel Company of Scotland, Hallside, near Newton Station. He was educated at West Coats Primary School
in Cambuslang
, then at Rutherglen Academy
, though he left there when he was fifteen. He became an office boy then an apprentice printer in Glasgow
and Kirkcaldy
. He then studied at Edinburgh College of Art
. Following national service in the RAF, where he was a photographic interpreter, he became a typographic designer with HMSO and did freelance typographic designing for publishers in London.
He then started on a career in graphic design education, first at Watford College of Technology and, following a brief spell as an editor in Glasgow with Robert Gibson & Sons Ltd, educational publishers, at what was to become Preston Polytechinc (and subsequently the University of Central Lancashire
), later progressing to the Professorship of Visual Communication at what was to become Nottingham Trent University
. Glen served on the Council of National Academic Awards.
Glen founded Akros Publications in 1965 with the aim of publishing Scottish poetry and literary criticism; from 1965-2006 over 250 publications appeared under the Akros imprint. They included not only poetry, critical and historical studies, Akros magazine and Zed 2 0 (19 numbers to date), but also fiction by Robert McLellan and John Herdman, amongst others.
As well as his own poetry, he produced a number of studies of Scottish literature, anthologies, and an impressive range of publications in other areas, including an influential history of typography. He found time to produce the definitive history of Cambuslang
, a place for which he retained an obvious affection, and also a lengthy illustrated history of Kirkcaldy where he latterly lived.
He was elected Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers
in 1977. In 1974 and 1998 he received awards from the Scottish Arts Council "for services to Scottish literature" and "in recognition of his many years as a publisher and editor and entrepreneurial activities for Scottish literature". In 1991 he received The Howard Sergeant Memorial Award "in recognition of long and devoted services to poetry". In 2000 he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by Paisley University
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
poet, literary editor and Emeritus Professor of Visual Communication at Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
. He became known to the literary world through his first full-length book, "Hugh MacDiarmid and the Scottish Renaissance". He published many collections of poetry, from "Kythings and other poems" (1969), "In Appearances" (1971) and "Realities Poems" (1980) to "Selected Poems 1965-1990" (1991), "Selected New Poems 1987-1996" (1998) and "Collected Poems 1965-2005" (2006). His "Autobiography of a Poet" was published by Ramsay Head Press in 1986. He edited Akros magazine through 51 numbers from August 1965 and did much to promote Scottish poets and artists. He was a friend and early champion of Hugh MacDiarmid
Hugh MacDiarmid
Hugh MacDiarmid is the pen name of Christopher Murray Grieve , a significant Scottish poet of the 20th century. He was instrumental in creating a Scottish version of modernism and was a leading light in the Scottish Renaissance of the 20th century...
and Ian Hamilton Finlay
Ian Hamilton Finlay
Ian Hamilton Finlay, CBE, was a Scottish poet, writer, artist and gardener.-Biography:Finlay was born in Nassau, Bahamas of Scottish parents. He was educated in Scotland at Dollar Academy. At the age of 13, with the outbreak of World War II, he was evacuated to family in the countryside...
among others, and produced several volumes of poetry, some of which was translated into Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
.
Glen was born in Westburn, Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
, South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of a white collar worker in The Steel Company of Scotland, Hallside, near Newton Station. He was educated at West Coats Primary School
West Coats Primary School
West Coats Primary School in Cambuslang, Scotland was built in the late 19th century and is still an active school with over 400 children. It recently underwent a renovation, adding an extension to accommodate the number of pupils....
in Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
, then at Rutherglen Academy
Rutherglen
Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.-History:...
, though he left there when he was fifteen. He became an office boy then an apprentice printer in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
. He then studied at Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
. Following national service in the RAF, where he was a photographic interpreter, he became a typographic designer with HMSO and did freelance typographic designing for publishers in London.
He then started on a career in graphic design education, first at Watford College of Technology and, following a brief spell as an editor in Glasgow with Robert Gibson & Sons Ltd, educational publishers, at what was to become Preston Polytechinc (and subsequently the University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
), later progressing to the Professorship of Visual Communication at what was to become Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Glen served on the Council of National Academic Awards.
Glen founded Akros Publications in 1965 with the aim of publishing Scottish poetry and literary criticism; from 1965-2006 over 250 publications appeared under the Akros imprint. They included not only poetry, critical and historical studies, Akros magazine and Zed 2 0 (19 numbers to date), but also fiction by Robert McLellan and John Herdman, amongst others.
As well as his own poetry, he produced a number of studies of Scottish literature, anthologies, and an impressive range of publications in other areas, including an influential history of typography. He found time to produce the definitive history of Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
, a place for which he retained an obvious affection, and also a lengthy illustrated history of Kirkcaldy where he latterly lived.
He was elected Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers
Chartered Society of Designers
The Chartered Society of Designers , headquartered in London, England, is the professional body for designers. It is the world's only Royal chartered body of professional designers...
in 1977. In 1974 and 1998 he received awards from the Scottish Arts Council "for services to Scottish literature" and "in recognition of his many years as a publisher and editor and entrepreneurial activities for Scottish literature". In 1991 he received The Howard Sergeant Memorial Award "in recognition of long and devoted services to poetry". In 2000 he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by Paisley University
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
.