{{Short description|British writer}} {{for|the English footballer|Alan Spence (footballer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} '''Alan Spence''' (born 1947) is a Scottish writer and is Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Aberdeen,<ref name=ua/> where he is also artistic director of the annual WORD Festival. He was born in Glasgow, educated at Allan Glen's School<ref>Allan Glen's School Club Newsletter, Sept 2017</ref> there, and much of his work is set in the city.

Spence is a poet and playwright, novelist and short-story writer, and has recently{{When|date=September 2021}} been commissioned by Scottish Opera to set words to a piece of music by Miriama Young.

His first work was the collection of short stories ''Its colours they are fine'', first published in 1977. This was followed by two plays, ''Sailmaker'' in 1982 and ''Space Invaders'' in 1983. The novel ''The Magic Flute'' appeared in 1990 along with his first book of poetry ''Glasgow Zen''. In 1991, another of his plays, ''Changed Days'', was published before a brief hiatus.

He returned in 1996 with ''Stone Garden'', another collection of short stories.

In 2006, ''The Pure Land'', a historical novel set in Japan, was published by Canongate Books,<ref name=i/> and is based on the life of Thomas Blake Glover who is allegedly immortalized in the story of Madame Butterfly.

In 2022, ''Edinburgh Come All Ye,'' a collection of poetry, was published by Scotland Street Press. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Scotland Street Press {{!}} Bookstore {{!}} Edinburgh Come All Ye |url=https://www.scotlandstreetpress.com/product/edinburgh-come-all-ye |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=www.scotlandstreetpress.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2026 ''Sailmaker'' was revived by The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, and toured Scotland.

* Directed by Liz Carruthers; Lighting Design by Wayne Dowdeswelll; Sound Design & Original Score by Gary Cameron; Set & Costume Design by Claire Halleran * Cast: Davie (father): Andy Clark; Uncle Billy: Paul J Corrigan; Alec (son): Alexander Tait; Ian (cousin): Lewis Kerr

Alan Spence is a member of the Edinburgh Sri Chinmoy Centre and practises meditation.<ref name="bbc" />

==Awards== * 1996: named Scottish writer of the year.<ref name=ua/> * 2017: named Edinburgh Makar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alan Spence – new Edinburgh Makar {{!}} Literature Alliance Scotland {{!}} Caidreabhas Litreachais Alba|url=https://literaturealliancescotland.co.uk/alan-spence-new-edinburgh-makar|access-date=2020-09-01|website=literaturealliancescotland.co.uk}}</ref> * 2018: Order of the Rising Sun.<ref name=jt/><ref name=SCC/>

==Reviews== * Burns, John (1982), review of ''Glasgow Zen'' and ''Sailmaker'', in Hearn, Sheila G. (ed.), ''Cencrastus'' No. 10, Autumn 1982, pp. 42 & 43, {{issn|0264-0856}} * [https://theatreandtonic.co.uk/blog/sailmaker-at-beacon-arts-centre-review 'Kathryn' for Theatre and Tonic], 7 March 2026. * Cooper, Neil (2026), 'Alan Spence's Sailmaker impresses 35 years after last performance. [http://heraldscotland.com/life_style/25917929.alan-spences-sailmaker-impresses-35-years-last-performance/ The Herald], 2026 (no date given on website).

==References== <references>

<ref name="ua">abdn.ac.uk :{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/english/staff/details.php?id=a.spence |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121222195101/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/english/staff/details.php?id=a.spence |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-22 |title=Professor Alan Spence |accessdate=2013-04-23}}</ref>

<ref name="i">Independent.co.uk :{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-pure-land-by-alan-spence-413579.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109224115/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-pure-land-by-alan-spence-413579.html |archive-date=2012-11-09 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=The Pure Land by Alan Spence |date=2006-08-27 |accessdate=2013-04-23 |location=London |work=The Independent |first=David |last=Isaacson}}</ref>

<ref name="bbc">bbc.co.uk :{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/ritesrituals/meditation_1.shtml |title=Professor Alan Spence |date=2011-07-15 |access-date=2013-04-23}}</ref>

<!-- <ref name="en">edinburghnews.scotsman.com :{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/entertainment/award-winning-poet-set-to-be-edinburgh-s-new-makar-1-4555388 |title= Award-winning poet set to be Edinburgh’s new Makar|date=2017-09-09|accessdate=2017-10-30}}</ref> -->

<ref name="jt">japantimes.co.jp :{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2018/07/21/books/lifetime-devoted-haiku-nets-scottish-poet-prestigious-honor/|title=Lifetime devoted to haiku nets Scottish poet prestigious honor|date=2018-06-21|accessdate=2018-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="SCC">uk.srichinmoycentre.org :{{cite web|url=https://uk.srichinmoycentre.org/janaka-receives-order-rising-sun |title=Janaka receives the Order of the Rising Sun|date=|accessdate=2018-01-09}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== *[http://www.alanspence.co.uk/ Website]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Alan}} Category:Living people Category:Scottish scholars and academics Category:Devotees of Sri Chinmoy Category:1947 births Category:People educated at Allan Glen's School