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Allan Massie has died aged 87 (Image: Claudia Massie)
Renowned author Allan Massie, hailed as one of Scotland’s greatest literary figures, has died aged 87. Massie had been battling what he described as a “wretched cancer” and only stepped down as a literary critic for The Scotsman last month. Massie passed away surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday (February 3). Posting on Substack, his son, Alex, said: “Father died this afternoon. Outside, my sister’s Dandie Dinmont terrier was barking in the garden as he quietly slipped away. It was a good and gentle end to a good and gentle life, the sort of death many of us might wish for ourselves: at peace, in bed, surrounded by all his children.
Allan Massie, celebrated as one of Scotland’s most esteemed literary icons, has passed away at the age of 87. Massie had been courageously battling what he referred to as a “wretched cancer,” and only recently retired from his role as a literary critic for The Scotsman. He died peacefully at his home in Selkirk, located in the Scottish Borders, on Tuesday, February 3, surrounded by family. His son Alex shared on Substack, “Father died this afternoon. Outside, my sister’s Dandie Dinmont terrier was barking in the garden as he quietly slipped away. It was a good and gentle end to a good and gentle life, the sort of death many of us might wish for ourselves: at peace, in bed, surrounded by all his children.”
Alex further expressed, “He was a good and kind man and there are many younger writers and others for whom he has been a source of encouragement and much else besides. He was also – and forgive me for stressing this but it does feel important – a great father. We shall miss him greatly while being consoled that all those words do form and furnish a kind of self-made monument.” Massie’s journey began in Singapore, but he was raised in Aberdeenshire by his mother. He attended Glenalmond College on a scholarship and later pursued higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1960.
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Over his prolific career, Massie authored nearly 30 books and is believed to have reviewed about 3,500 books for The Scotsman since he joined the publication in 1975. His debut novel, “Change and Decay in All Around I See,” hit the shelves in 1978. Among his most acclaimed works, Massie cherished his mid-European trilogy, which includes “A Question of Loyalties” (1989), “The Sins of the Father” (1991), and “Shadows of Empire” (1997).
Massie was honoured with a Knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2007 and received a CBE six years later.
After stepping back from his work with The Scotsman last month, Massie said: “I’m not reading much these days. My eyesight isn’t what it was, so for the last few months I’ve been spending my days sitting here, thinking, reflecting and remembering. If this wretched cancer wasn’t involved, it would all be quite agreeable.”
Leading the tributes was author Ian Rankin, who was taught by Massie at Edinburgh University in the early 1980s.
He said: “Allan was such a huge help to me. The writers in residence I’d met at Edinburgh Uni had all been poets but I’d moved from poetry to prose.
“Then Allan arrived and I started showing him stuff. I then entered a short story contest sponsored by Sinclair Computers and The Scotsman. Allan was the judge and I was runner-up to Iain Crichton Smith. A huge fillip.
“Allan was also editing New Edinburgh Review and took a story or two for that. Then, after Polygon had published my first novel The Flood, Allan introduced me to his editor at Bodley Head, Euan Cameron. Euan took my first Rebus novel Knots and Crosses. And that was that. Allan even provided a quote for the jacket.I was in my infancy as a published writer but Allan was there at the delivery! We kept in touch forever after.”
Massie died following a battle with “wretched” cancer (Image: Allan Massie)
He added: “Allan was throughout this period a terrific and largely underrated writer – novels, non-fiction, book reviews and other journalism. It was a privilege to get to know the man behind the work. I’ll always be grateful to him.”
Another shared on X: “Allan Massie was hugely important to me. One of my very first readers and champions. He was also an underappreciated novelist, a sharp but humane literary critic, a gentleman.”
A third echoed: “So very sorry to hear the great Allan Massie is dead. Always admired his fiction. His reviews a pleasure to read. Emails invariably cheering. Eternally grateful to him for putting me in PEN New Fiction II a great many years ago. RIP @alexmassie.”
Massie is survived by his three children Alex, Claudia and Louis.