Iain Levison
Encyclopedia
Iain Levison is a Scottish-American
writer born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1963.
, where he received an English degree that became part of the premise for his first commercial success, the memoir A Working Stiff's Manifesto. Since that book's publication in 2001, he has published three additional books, mainly fast-paced crime novels with themes such as economic inequality
, workers' rights, alienation, and gun control
in the United States. Since the Layoffs was published by Soho Press in July 2003, followed by Dog Eats Dog, from Bitter Lemon Press
in October 2008, and How To Rob An Armored Car, published by Soho Press a year later in October, 2009. Levison's writing is known for crisp sentences and at times acerbic wit.
Levison was born in a poor neighborhood of Aberdeen while his father was a medical student at the University of Aberdeen
. He abandoned the family for several years and went to work in the United States, and Levison's mother relied heavily on the British social welfare network during his childhood. In 1971, his parents reconciled and the family came to live in the United States, and eventually settled in Merion, Pennsylvania
, on Philadelphia's wealthy Main Line. He graduated from Lower Merion High School
in 1981 and returned to Scotland later that year to join the British Army. He frequently credits his experience of extreme poverty and extreme wealth while still a child for giving him a unique perspective on how national economics affects individuals.
In 2008, Levison won the Clarion Award for a series of articles for Philadelphia magazine about drunk driving laws, smoking bans and the inefficiency of Philadelphia City Government.
Levison currently resides in Taiyuan, China, where he teaches at a primary school. He has roots in Philadelphia and Scotland.
Scottish American
Scottish Americans or Scots Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Scotland. Scottish Americans are closely related to Scots-Irish Americans, descendants of Ulster Scots, and communities emphasize and celebrate a common heritage...
writer born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1963.
Biography
Levison graduated from Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, where he received an English degree that became part of the premise for his first commercial success, the memoir A Working Stiff's Manifesto. Since that book's publication in 2001, he has published three additional books, mainly fast-paced crime novels with themes such as economic inequality
Economic inequality
Economic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
, workers' rights, alienation, and gun control
Gun politics
Gun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
in the United States. Since the Layoffs was published by Soho Press in July 2003, followed by Dog Eats Dog, from Bitter Lemon Press
Bitter Lemon Press
Bitter Lemon Press is a small London-based independent publisher, set up by Francois von Hurter in 2003 which specialises in translated literary crime novels and romans noirs from abroad. They currently publish novels by authors such as Gianrico Carofiglio, the famous Swiss crime-writer Friedrich...
in October 2008, and How To Rob An Armored Car, published by Soho Press a year later in October, 2009. Levison's writing is known for crisp sentences and at times acerbic wit.
Levison was born in a poor neighborhood of Aberdeen while his father was a medical student at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
. He abandoned the family for several years and went to work in the United States, and Levison's mother relied heavily on the British social welfare network during his childhood. In 1971, his parents reconciled and the family came to live in the United States, and eventually settled in Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion Station is an unincorporated community in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is contiguous to Philadelphia and is also bordered by Wynnewood, Narberth, and Bala Cynwyd...
, on Philadelphia's wealthy Main Line. He graduated from Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school in Ardmore, a community on the Pennsylvania Main Line.It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. It was ranked among the top 60 U.S. high...
in 1981 and returned to Scotland later that year to join the British Army. He frequently credits his experience of extreme poverty and extreme wealth while still a child for giving him a unique perspective on how national economics affects individuals.
In 2008, Levison won the Clarion Award for a series of articles for Philadelphia magazine about drunk driving laws, smoking bans and the inefficiency of Philadelphia City Government.
Levison currently resides in Taiyuan, China, where he teaches at a primary school. He has roots in Philadelphia and Scotland.