R. B. Cunninghame Graham and Scotland: Party, Prose, and Political Aesthetic - Paperback

by Lachlan Munro (Author)

R. B. Cunninghame Graham was a well-known and hugely influential figure in late 19th- and early 20th-century Scottish politics and literature. This book explores Graham's early political views, his time as a Member of Parliament, his disillusionment with the Liberal Party and his reputation as the first declared 'socialist' MP. Using documentary evidence and tangible philosophical links, the book traces Graham's early political influences derived directly or indirectly from key 19th-century figures, particularly William Morris. It also examines Graham's anti-imperialist, anti-colonial and anti-racist speeches and writings, and his active support for women's rights and universal suffrage.
Lachlan Munro strips away the mythology surrounding Graham to reveal an altogether more complex picture, exploring his political and literary achievements, during a time of enormous political, economic and cultural upheaval - the reverberations of which are still ongoing.

Author Biography

Lachlan Munro is an Independent Scholar and Freelance Historian. Born and brought up in Stirlingshire, he holds first class honours degrees in History and Politics, and a PhD in History from the University of Glasgow. He was previously a Research Fellow at The National Library of Scotland. His publications include: R. B. Cunninghame Graham and Scotland: Party, Prose, and Political Aesthetic, (EUP, 2022) which was shortlisted for the Saltire Society 'History Book of the Year' 2022, The Scenery of Dreams: The True Story of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Kidnapped', (The Deveron Press, 2018), An Eagle In A Hen-House: Selected Political Speeches and Writings of R. B. Cunninghame Graham, (The Deveron Press, 2017).