List of Scottish writers

List of Scottish writers is an incomplete alphabetical list of Scottish writers who have a WorldHeritage page. Those on the list were born and/or brought up in Scotland. They include writers of all genres, writing in English, Lowland Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, French or any other language. Please help by adding new names, using the present entry format as far as possible. Writers put on the list who are still without a WorldHeritage page have been transferred to the "No-pagers" section on the Talk page.

Abbreviations used: awa = also writes/wrote as, b. = born, c. = circa, fl. = floruit (flourished), or. = originally, RC = Roman Catholic, SF = science fiction, YA = young-adult.

This is a subsidiary list to the List of Scots.

This literature-related list is ; you can help by .

A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
E 5
F 6
G 7
H 8
I 9
J 10
K 11
L 12
M 13
N 14
O 15
P 16
Q 17
R 18
S 19
T 20
U 21
W 22
Y 23
See also 24

A

John Abercrombie (1726–1806), horticulturalist and garden writer
Patrick Abercromby (1665 – c. 1716), historian and physician
Gilbert Adair (1944–2011), novelist, poet and critic
Alexander Adam (1741–1809), classicist
James Adam (1860–1907), classicist
Jean Adam (1704–1765), poet from the labouring classes
Marion Adams-Acton (awa Jeanie Hering, 1846–1928), children's writer and playwright
Henry Adamson (1581–1639), historian
Adomnán (627/8–704), biographer (in Latin), Vita Columbae
Douglas Ainslie (1865–1948), poet, translator and critic
Thomas Aird (1802–1876), poet
Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair (c. 1695–1770), poet
Gillebríghde Albanach (fl. 1200–1230), poet (in medieval Gaelic)
William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling (c. 1570–1640), poet and dramatist
Archibald Alison (1757–1839), essayist and Episcopal cleric
Archibald Alison (1792–1867), historian and advocate
William Alison (1790–1859), social reformer and physician
Adam Anderson (1692 or 1693–1765), economist
Alan Orr Anderson (1879–1958), historian
James Anderson (1662–1728), historian
James Anderson of Hermiston (1739–1808), economist and farmer
James Robertson Anderson (1811–1895), playwright and actor
John Anderson (1726–1796), natural philosopher and reformer
Lin Anderson (living), crime writer
Marjorie Ogilvie Anderson (1909–2002), historian
Patrick Anderson (fl.1618–1635), author and physician
Andrew of Wyntoun (c. 1350 – c. 1423), poet (in Early Scots), Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland
Aneirin (fl. c. 575 – c. 600), bard (in Brythonic)
James Stout Angus (1830–1923), poet (in English and Shetlandic)
Marion Angus (1866–1946), poet (in Braid Scots)
J. K. Annand (1908–1993), Scots poet, best known for his children's poems
Alexander Arbuthnot (1538–1583), poet and Church of Scotland minister
John Arbuthnot (c. 1667–1735), physician, satirist and polymath
Hugo Arnot (1749–1786), writer and lawyer
David Ashton (b. 1941), screenwriter, novelist and actor
Margot Asquith (1864–1945), writer and wit
William Auld (1924–2006), poet and writer (in Esperanto and English)
Robert Aytoun (1570–1638), poet
William Edmonstoune Aytoun (1813–1865), poet, humorist and writer

B

William Balfour Baikie (1824–1864), naturalist and philologist
Lady Grizel Baillie (1665–1746), song-writer
Joanna Baillie (1762–1851), poet and dramatist
Alan Balatine (fl. 1520–1560), historian
James Balfour (c. 1600 – c. 1658), annalist and antiquary
Patrick Balfour, Lord Kinross (1904–1976), historian and biographer
R. M. Ballantyne (1825–1894), children's novelist, The Coral Island
Iain Banks (1954–2013), novelist; also wrote as Iain M. Banks
Anne Bannerman (1765–1829), poet
John Bannerman (1932–2008), historian
John Barbour (1316–1395), poet (in Early Scots)
William Barclay (1546–1608), jurist and author
William Barclay (1570?–1630?), writer on miscellaneous subjects
Lady Anne Barnard (1750–1825), poet and correspondent
John Baron (1786–1851), biographer of Edward Jenner
Damian Barr (b. 1976), writer
William Barr (b. 1940), historian of the Arctic
J. M. Barrie (1860–1937), novelist, playwright and children's writer, Peter Pan
Carole Barrowman (b. 1959), co-author with John Barrowman, and Professor of English and Director of Creative Studies in Writing
Meg Bateman (b. 1959), scholar and poet (in Gaelic)
James Beattie (1735–1803), poet and moral philosopher
J. J. Bell (1871–1934), story writer and poet (in Scots and English)
John Bellenden or Bannatyne (c. 1495 – pre-1548), poet and translator (in Middle Scots)
Margot Bennett (1912–1980), thriller writer
Julie Bertagna (b. 1962), children's and YA writer
Erskine Beveridge (1851–1920), historian and industrialist
Alan Bissett (b. 1975), novelist and playwright (in Scots and English)
David MacLeod Black (b. 1941), poet and psychoanalyst
J. B. Black (1883–1964), historian
Margaret Moyes Black (1853–1935), novelist and biographer
William Black (1841–1898), novelist
Sheena Blackhall (b. 1947), poet, novelist, short story writer, illustrator, traditional story teller and singer
John Stuart Blackie (1809–1895), classicist and translator
Thomas Blackwell (1701–1757), classicist and historian
William Garden Blaikie (1820–1899), religious writer, biographer and Free Church of Scotland minister
Iain Blair (wrote as Emma Blair, 1942–2011), romantic novelist and actor
Robert Blair (1699–1746), poet
Blind Harry (awa Harry the Minstrel, c. 1440–1492), poet (in Middle Scots), The Wallace
Hector Boece (awa Boethius, 1465–1536), historian and biographer
Alan Bold (1943–1998), poet and biographer
James Boswell (1740–1795), biographer and diarist, Life of Samuel Johnson
Alexander Bower (fl. 1804–1830), biographer
Walter Bower (c. 1385–1449), chronicler (in Latin) and abbot, Scotichronicon
Edward Boyd (1916–1989), screenwriter
Mark Alexander Boyd (1562–1601), poet (in Latin and Middle Scots)
M. C. Bradbrook (1909–1993), critic and scholar
Rory Bremner (b. 1961), screenwriter, comedian and translator
Theresa Breslin (living), YA writer
James Bridie (real name Osborne Henry Mavor, 1888–1951), playwright, screenwriter and surgeon
George Brodie (c. 1786–1867), historian
Denis William Brogan (1900–1974), political scientist
Christopher Brookmyre (b. 1968), novelist
Dauvit Broun (b. 1961), historian
The House with the Green Shutters
George Mackay Brown (1921–1996), poet, writer and playwright
Gordon Brown (living), crime writer
Hamish Brown (b. 1934), writer on walking
James Brown known as J.B.Selkirk (1832 – 25 December 1904), Scottish poet and essayist
John Brown (1722–1787), theologian and minister of the Secession Church
John Brown (1784–1858), theologian and minister of the Secession Church
John Brown (1810–1882), essayist and physician
Peter Hume Brown (1849–1918), historian
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875–1940), novelist, The Thirty-Nine Steps
Dugald Buchanan (Dùghall Bochanan, 1716–1768), poet and Bible translator (in Scots and Gaelic)
George Buchanan (1506–1582), historian and humanist (in Latin, Middle Scots and English)
Geoffrey Bull (1921–1999), religious writer
Rhoda Bulter (1929–1994), poet and novelist
Haldane Burgess (1862–1927), poet, novelist and historian
Gregory Burke (b. 1968), playwright, Black Watch
James Burnett (1714–1799), judge and philosopher
Gilbert Burnet (1643–1715), theologian, historian and bishop
John Burnet (1863–1928), classicist
Robert Burns (1759–1796), national poet and lyricist (in Lowland Scots and English)
John Burnside (b. 1955), poet and novelist
John Hill Burton (1809–1881), historian and economist
John Byrne (b. 1940), playwright

C

Maoilios Caimbeul (b. 1944), poet and children's writer (in Gaelic)
John Cairncross (1913–1995), scholar, translator and spy
John Cairns (1818–1892), religious writer and minister of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Angus Calder (1942–2008), literary critic and historian
Jenni Calder (née Daiches) (born 1941), literary historian
Peter Ritchie Calder, Baron Ritchie-Calder of Balmashanner (1906–1982), socialist author, journalist and academic
David Calderwood (1575–1650), historian and Presbyterian minister
Henry Calderwood (1830–1897), philosopher and minister of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Allan Cameron (b. 1952), novelist and translator
Norman Cameron (1905–1953), poet
A. Y. Campbell (1885–1958), classicist and poet
Angus Peter Campbell (living), novelist, columnist and poet (in Gaelic)
James Campbell (b. 1951), biographer and literary journalist
James Dykes Campbell (1838–1895), biographer and scholar
John Campbell (1708–1775), historian, novelist and translator
Karen Campbell (b. 1968), crime writer
Lewis Campbell (1830–1908), classicist
Rod Campbell (b. 1945), children's writer and illustrator
Thomas Campbell (1777–1844), poet
Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), essayist and historian
Alexander Carmichael (1832–1912), writer and ethnographer
Catherine Carswell (1879–1946), biographer, novelist and critic
Sìleas na Ceapaich (fl. 1660–1729), female Gaelic poet
George Chalmers (1742–1825), antiquary and historian
Thomas Chalmers (1780–1847), theologian, economist and Free Church of Scotland minister
Robert Chambers (1802–1871), thinker and publisher, Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation
Glenn Chandler (b. 1949), playwright, novelist and screenwriter
Keith Charters (b. 1965), children's writer and publisher
Marion Chesney (awa M. C. Beaton, etc., b. 1936), genre novelist
Alexander Campbell Cheyne (1924–2006), church historian
Kate Clanchy (b. 1965), poet and playwright
Ralph Clark (1755 or 1762–1794), diarist and Royal Marines officer
William Robinson Clark (1829–1912), theologian, biographer and Church of England cleric
William Cleland (1661–1689), poet and soldier
John Clerk of Eldin (1728–1812), naval writer and merchant
J. Storer Clouston (1870–1944), novelist and historian
Alison Cockburn (awa Alison Rutherford, 1712–1794), poet and wit
Henry Cockburn (1779–1854), writer and lawyer
James Cockburn (1882–1973), church historian and Church of Scotland minister
John Colville (c. 1540–1605), historian and politician
Stewart Conn (b. 1936), poet and playwright
Sophie Cooke (b. 1976), novelist, poet and travel writer
Joe Corrie (1894–1968), poet, playwright and miner
John William Cousin (1849–1910), biographer
Ashley Cowie (b. 1973), historian and broadcaster
Helen Craik (1751–1825), novelist and poet
John Adam Cramb (awa R. A. Revermont, 1862–1913), historian and novelist
James Brown Craven (1850–1924), church historian and Episcopal minister
Robert Crawford (b. 1959), poet, scholar and critic
George Crawfurd (d. 1748), genealogist and historian
John Crawfurd (1783–1868), writer and colonial administrator
Andrew Crichton (1790–1855), biographer and historian
Samuel Rutherford Crockett (1860–1914), novelist
A. J. Cronin (1896–1981), novelist and physician, Dr Finlay
Helen Cruickshank (1886–1975), poet (in Braid Scots and English)
Andrew Crumey (b. 1961), novelist
Charles Cumming (b. 1971), spy novelist
Allan Cunningham (1784–1942), poet, novelist and biographer
Joseph Cunningham (1812–1851), historian
Peter Cunningham (1816–1869), topographical writer and biographer
Anne Jane Cupples (1839–1896), children's writer

D

John Davidson 1857–1909, poet, playwright and novelist
David Daiches (1912–2005), critic and scholar
David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes (1726–1792), historian and judge
John Dalrymple (1726–1810), historian and judge, Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland
William Dalrymple (b. 1965), historian and travel writer
John Graham Dalyell (1775–1851), antiquary and translator
Thomas Davidson (1840–1900), philosopher
Carol Anne Davis (b. 1961), crime writer
Christine De Luca (born 1947), Scottish poet, writing in English and Shetland dialect
Thomas Dempster (1579–1625), scholar and historian (in Latin)
Lavinia Derwent (real name Elizabeth Dodd, 1909–1989), children's writer and broadcaster
Tom Devine (b. 1945), historian
Henry Dewar (1771–1823), writer, minister of religion and physician
Imtiaz Dharker (b. 1954), poet, artist and filmmaker
Des Dillon (living), novelist, poet and screenwriter
Lady Florence Dixie (1855–1905), feminist, travel writer and novelist
James Main Dixon (1856–1933), author, teacher and scholar of the Scots language
Gordon Donaldson (1913–1993), historian
James Donaldson (1831–1915), classicist and theologian
Anne Donovan (living), novelist
Colin Douglas (real name Colin Thomas Currie, b. 1945), novelist and physician
Gavin Douglas (1474–1522), makar, translator (in Middle Scots) and bishop
George Brisbane Scott Douglas (1856–1935), poet and biographer
O. Douglas (1877–1948), novelist
Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, 6th Baronet (1694–1770), genealogist responsible for The Baronage of Scotland
Patrick Edward Dove (1815–1873), economic philosopher
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), novelist and story writer, Sherlock Holmes
Andrew Drummond (living), novelist and translator
Henry Drummond (1851–1897), religious and scientific writer
William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585–1649), poet
Archie Duncan (b. 1926), historian
Carol Ann Duffy (b. 1955), Poet Laureate and playwright
James Dunbar (d. 1798), moral philosopher (in Latin and English)
William Dunbar (c. 1460 – c. 1520), poet (in Middle Scots)
Andrew Duncan (1744–1828), medical writer and physician
Dave Duncan (b. 1933), fantasy and SF writer
Hal Duncan (b. 1971), SF and fantasy writer
Henry Duncan (1774–1846), reformer, religious writer and minister of the Free Church of Scotland
Jane Duncan (real name Elizabeth Jane Cameron, 1910–1976), novelist and children's writer
Binnie Dunlop (1874–1946), doctor and advocate of eugenics
John Colin Dunlop (c. 1785–1842), historian
Douglas Dunn (b. 1942), poet
Dorothy Dunnett (1923–2001), historical novelist, Lymond Chronicles
Bruce Durie (b. 1954), writer and crime novelist
Niall Duthie (b. 1947), novelist

E

Arthur Edmondston (1776–1841), Scottish physician and writer on the Shetland Isles
John Elder (fl.1542–1565), cartographer, tutor and writer
Jean Elliot 1727–1805, poet (in Scots)
Margaret Elphinstone (b. 1948), novelist
David Erskine (1772–1837), playwright and antiquary
Ebenezer Erskine (1680–1754), religious writer, diarist and minister of the Secession Church
Ralph Erskine (1685–1752), poet, religious writer and minister of the Secession Church

F

John Fardell (b. 1967), children's writer and cartoonist
Simon Farquhar (living), playwright
Alison Fell (b. 1944), poet and novelist
Adam Ferguson (1723–1816), philosopher and historian
Craig Ferguson (b. 1962), novelist and screenwriter
David Ferguson (d. 1598), religious writer and compiler
Robert Ferguson (c. 1637–1714), pamphleteer and minister of the Church of Scotland
Robert Fergusson (1750–1774), poet (in Braid Scots and English)
Eric Fernie (b. 1939), art historian
James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864), philosopher
Susan Edmonstone Ferrier (1782–1854), novelist
Paul John Ferris (b. 1963), author and criminal
George Finlay (English-born Scot, 1799–1875), philhellene and Greek historian, founder of the British School in Athens
Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006), poet and artist
Iain Finlayson (b. 1945), biographer
Matthew Fitt (b. 1968), poet and novelist (in Scots)
David Hay Fleming (1849–1931), historian
John Fleming (1785–1857), naturalist and minister of the Free Church of Scotland
Marjorie Fleming (1803–1811), child writer and poet
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653–1716), political writer
Veronica Forrest-Thomson (1947–1975), poet and a critical theorist
Neil Forsyth (b. 1978), biographer and humorist
William Fowler (c. 1560–1612), poet and courtier
Ronald Frame (b. 1953), novelist and short story writer
The Flashman Papers
William Fraser (1816–1898), historian, palaeographer and lawyer
The Golden Bough
Graham Fulton (b. 1959), poet
Robin Fulton (b. 1937), poet and translator
Christopher Fyfe (1920–2008), historian

G

James Gairdner (1828–1912), historian and editor
Gillian Galbraith (living), crime writer and advocate
Iain Gale (b. 1959), novelist and critic
Janice Galloway (b. 1956), novelist and story writer, The Trick is to Keep Breathing
John Galt (1779–1839), novelist (in Lowland Scots and English), Annals of the Parish
Robert Garioch (1909–1981), poet and translator (in Scots)
Alexander Geddes (1737–1802), theologian, Bible translator and poet
Michael Geddes (c. 1650–1713), historian and Anglican cleric
Sir William Duguid Geddes (1828–1900), Greek scholar and educationalist
Alexander Gerard (1728–1795), philosopher and minister of the Church of Scotland
Pat Gerber (1934–2006), novelist and children's writer
Lewis Grassic Gibbon (real name James Leslie Mitchell, 1901–1935), novelist, A Scots Quair
Peter Giles (1860–1935), philologist
Spasmodic poets
John Gillies (1747–1836), historian and translator
Duncan Glen (1933–2008), poet, scholar and editor
William Glen (1789–1826), poet
Debi Gliori (b. 1959), children's writer and illustrator
Janey Godley (b. 1961), writer and comic
Alexander Gordon (c. 1692–1755), antiquary
Alexander Gordon (1841–1931), historian and Unitarian minister
Robert Gordon (1786–1853), religious writer, scientist and minister of the Free Church of Scotland
Robert Gordon of Straloch (1580–1661), poet, antiquary and cartographer
Thomas Gordon (c. 1691–1750), polemicist and translator
Robert Graham of Gartmore (1735–1797), poet
Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham (1852–1936), writer and politician
W. S. Graham (1918–1986), poet
Kenneth Grahame (1859–1932), story writer and children's writer, The Wind in the Willows
Elizabeth Grant (c. 1745 – c. 1814), songwriter
James Grant (1822–1887), novelist and historian
John Grant (b. 1949), SF, fantasy and non-fiction writer
John Grant (living), children's writer, illustrator and broadcaster
K. M. Grant (b. 1958), children's writer
Alasdair Gray (b. 1934), writer and artist
Alex Gray (b. 1950), crime writer
Alexander Gray (1882–1968), scholar, poet and translator
Muriel Gray (b. 1959), writer and broadcaster
Nicholas Stuart Gray (1922–1981), children's writer and actor
David Gregory (1659–1708), mathematician and astronomer
Donald Gregory (1803–1836), historian and antiquary
James Gregory (1638–1675), mathematician and astronomer
James Gregory (1753–1821), classicist and physician
John Gregory (1724–1773), moralist and physician
William Gregory (1803–1858), chemist and translator
Andrew Greig (b. 1951), novelist, poet and writer on climbing
David Greig (b. 1969), playwright
Neil M. Gunn (1891–1973), novelist and essayist
Allan Guthrie (b. 1965), crime writer
Henry Guthrie (c. 1600–1676), historian and bishop
William Guthrie (1708–1770), historian

H

Archibald Richard Burdon Haldane (1900 – 1982), social historian and writer
James Haldane (1768–1851), theologian and missionary
John Joseph Haldane (b. 1954), philosopher
Alastair Hamilton (b. 1958), writer, The Appeal of Fascism
Janet Hamilton (1795–1873), poet
Thomas Hamilton (1789–1842), philosopher and novelist
William Hamilton (1788–1856), philosopher
Tom Hanlin (1907–1953), novelist
William Hardie (1862–1916), classicist
Thomas Hardy (1747–1798), historian, religious writer and Church of Scotland minister
Molly Harrower(1906–1999), pioneering clinical psychologist and poet
Christopher Harvie (b. 1944), historian and politician
George Campbell Hay (1915–1984), poet (in several languages)
Gilbert Hay (c. 1403 – post-1456), poet (in Early to Middle Scots)
Ian Hay (real name: John Hay Beith, 1876–1952), playwright and novelist
John MacDougall Hay (1880–1919), novelist
Mairi Hedderwick (b. 1939), children's writer and illustrator, Katie Morag
George Henderson (1866–1912), Gaelic scholar
Hamish Henderson (1919–2002), poet and folksong collector
Lizanne Henderson (living), historian and ethnographer
Frances M. Hendry (b. 1941), YA and children's writer
Robert Henry (1718–1790), historian
Robert Henryson (fl. 1460–1500), poet (in Middle Scots)
Thomas Nicoll Hepburn (wrote as Gabriel Setoun, 1861–1930), poet and novelist
W. N. Herbert (b. 1961), poet (in English and Scots)
Jeanie Hering (1846–1928), children's writer, playwright
Robert Heron (1764–1807), historian and geographer
William Maxwell Hetherington (1803–1865), poet, historian and Free Church of Scotland minister
Gilbert Highet (1906–1978), classicist and critic
James Hogg (1770–1835), poet, novelist and story writer.
Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696–1782), writer and lawyer
John Home (1722–1808), minister of religion and playwright
Stuart Hood (b. 1915), novelist and translator
Geoffrey Hosking (b. 1942), historian
Gerald Howat (1928–2007), cricket writer and historian
Thomas Hudson (d. c. 1605), poet and translator
Ben Humble (1903–1977), writer and climber
Alexander Hume (c. 1560–1609), poet
Anna Hume (fl. 1644), translator, poet and writer
David Hume (1711–1776), philosopher and historian. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
David Hume of Godscroft (1558–1629), historian, political theorist and poet
Patrick Hume of Polwarth (c. 1550–1609), makar
John Hunt (1827–1907), translator, theologian and Anglican cleric
Alexander Hunter (1729–1809), science writer and physician
James Hunter (b. 1948), historian
Mollie Hunter (1922–2012), YA and children's writer
William Wilson Hunter (1840–1900), historian and statistician

I

Alexander Taylor Innes (1833–1912), historian, biographer and lawyer
Cosmo Innes (1798–1874), historian and antiquary
Thomas Innes (1662–1744), historian and RC priest

J

Alan Jackson (born 1938), poet
Violet Jacob (1863–1946), poet and novelist
Kathleen Jamie (b. 1962), poet
John Jamieson (1759–1838), philologist, antiquary and United Secession Church minister
Robert Jamieson (c. 1780–1844), antiquary
Robert Alan Jamieson (b. 1958), poet and novelist
Quintin Jardine (b. 1945), crime writer
Alexander Jeffrey (c. 1806–1874), historian and lawyer
Francis Jeffrey (1773–1850), critic and judge
Robin Jenkins (1912–2005), novelist and story writer
John of Fordun (pre-1360 – c. 1384), chronicler (in Latin) and RC priest
Arthur Johnston (c. 1579–1641), poet (in Latin) and physician
D.D. Johnston (b. 1979), novelist
Morag Joss (living), novelist

K

Ada F Kay (b. 1929), playwright and biographer
Jackie Kay (b. 1961), poet and novelist
John Kay (b. 1948), economist
Henrietta Keddie (wrote as Sarah Tytler) (1827–1914), novelist and children's writer
Robert Keith (1681–1757), historian and Episcopal bishop
Isabella Kelly (c. 1758–1857), novelist and poet
Mary Kelly (b. 1927), crime writer
James Kelman (b. 1946), novelist, playwright and essayist, A Disaffection
James Kennaway (1928–1968), novelist and screenwriter
A. L. Kennedy (b. 1965), novelist and story writer
Sir Ludovic Kennedy (1919–2009), journalist, broadcaster, humanist and author
Walter Kennedy (c. 1455 – c. 1508), poet (in Middle Scots)
William Paton Ker (1855–1923), critic and essayist
Peter Kerr (b. 1940), travel writer and novelist
Philip Kerr (b. 1956), novelist and children's writer
Robert Kerr (1755–1813), science writer and translator
Jessie Kesson (1916–1984), novelist and playwright
Colin Kidd (living), historian
William King (b. 1959), SF and fantasy writer
Bill Knox (1928–1999), crime writer and broadcaster
John Knox (c. 1514–1572), religious reformer and theologian
Angus Konstam (b. 1960), historian
Frank Kuppner (b. 1951), poet

L

Alexander Laing (1787–1857), Lallans verse writer, known as the Brechin poet
David Laing (1793–1878), editor and antiquary
Malcolm Laing (1762–1818), historian
Samuel Laing (1780–1868), travel writer
Samuel Laing (1812-1897), railway administrator, politician, writer on science and religion
Laura Lam, American expatriate novelist working in Scotland
Alexander Crawford Lamb (1843–1897), antiquary
Norman Lamont (1869–1949), writer and politician
Andrew Lang (1844–1912), poet, novelist and folk-tale collector
Sir Thomas Dick Lauder (1784–1848), writer and antiquary
John Parker Lawson (d. 1852), historian and Episcopal minister
Ross Leckie (living), historical novelist
Alexander Leighton (1587–1644 or 1649), pamphleteer and Presbyterian preacher
Patricia Leitch (b. 1933), children's writer
Tom Leonard (b. 1944), poet, novelist and essayist (in English and Glasgow patter)
John Lesley (1527–1596), historian and RC bishop
David Lindsay (1876–1945), SF writer, A Voyage to Arcturus
Frederic Lindsay (b. 1933), crime writer
Maurice Lindsay (1918–2009), poet, biographer and broadcaster
Wallace Lindsay (1858–1937), classicist
Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (c. 1532–1580), chronicler (in Middle Scots)
Eric Linklater (1899–1974), novelist and historian, Private Angelo
Liz Lochhead (b. 1947), playwright and poet, Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off
John Gibson Lockhart (1794–1854), biographer and editor
John Logan (1748–1788), historian and poet
Iain Lom (c. 1624 – c. 1710), poet (in Gaelic)
John Longmuir (1803–1883), poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland
William Laughton Lorimer (1885–1967), scholar and Bible translator (in Scots)
Nick Lowe (b. 1956), classicist
Michael Lynch (b. 1946), historian
David Lyndsay or Lindsay (c. 1490 – c. 1555), poet (in Middle Scots) and courtier
Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847), Anglican divine, hymn-writer and poet

M

Anne Macaulay (1924–1998), musicologist
Lord Macaulay (1800–1859), essayist, historian and poet
Alexander Macbain (1855–1907), philologist
Scott McBain (pseudonym, b. 1960), novelist
Stuart MacBride (b. 1969), crime writer
Brian McCabe (b. 1951), poet and story writer
Norman MacCaig (1910–1996), poet
R. B. McCallum (1898–1973), historian and psephologist
Malcolm MacColl (1831–1907), writer and Episcopal cleric
Fionn MacColla (1906–1975), novelist
James McCosh (1811–1894), philosopher
Thomas M'Crie (1772–1835), historian and United Secession Church minister
John Ramsay McCulloch (1789–1864), economist
Val McDermid (b. 1955), crime writer
Hugh MacDiarmid (or. Christopher Murray Grieve, 1892–1978), poet (in Lallans and English)
Matthew McDiarmid (1914–1996), critic and poet
Allan MacDonald (1859–1905), poet and RC priest
Ethel MacDonald (1909–1960), anarchist and publisher
George Macdonald (1824–1905), poet and novelist
Norman Macdougall (living), historian and biographer
Iain McDowall (living), crime writer
Alexander Robertson MacEwen (1851–1916), church historian and United Free Church of Scotland minister
Ronald Campbell Macfie (1867–1931), poet, science writer and physician
James Pittendrigh Macgillivray (1856–1938), poet (in Scots) and sculptor
William McGonagall (1825–1902), poet and performer
Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (1899–1970), writer, photographer and poet
William McIlvanney (b. 1936), novelist and poet
Helen Clark MacInnes (1907–1985), thriller writer
Pat McIntosh (living), mystery and fantasy writer
Duncan Ban MacIntyre (1724–1812), poet (in Gaelic)
John William Mackail (1859–1945), classicist, poet and biographer
Angus Mackay (b. 1939), historian
James A. Mackay (1936–2007), biographer, philatelist and plagiarizer
John Henry Mackay (1864–1933), novelist and anarchist
Reg McKay (1953–2009), crime writer and writer on crime
Shena Mackay (b. 1944), novelist
Charles McKean (1946–2013), architectural historian and Professor of Scottish Architectural History at the University of Dundee
Agnes Mure Mackenzie (1891–1955), novelist, critic and historian
Alexander Mackenzie (1838–1898), historian
Donald Alexander Mackenzie (1873–1936), ethnographer and mythologist
Henry Mackenzie (1745–1831), novelist and miscellanist
William Mackay Mackenzie (1871–1952), historian and archaeologist
Piers Mackesy (b. 1924), military historian
Euan MacKie (b. 1936), archaeologist
John Duncan Mackie (1887–1978), historian
Donald MacKinnon (1839–1914), Celtic scholar
James Mackintosh (1765–1832), philosopher, historian and judge
John Mackintosh (1929–1978), politician
Ewen MacLachlan (1775–1822), classicist and translator (into Gaelic)
Ian Maclaren (real name John Watson, 1850–1907), fiction writer and theologian
Alistair MacLean (1922–1987), thriller writer, HMS Ulysses
Fitzroy Maclean (1911–1996), army officer, autobiographer and historian, Eastern Approaches
James Noël MacKenzie MacLean (1928–1978), historian
Sorley MacLean (1911–1996), poet (in Gaelic)
Robert McLellan (1907–1985), playwright and poet (in Scots)
Iain Finlay Macleod (b. 1973), playwright
Joseph Macleod (1903–1984), poet and playwright
Ken MacLeod (b. 1954), SF writer
Nicholas McLeod (fl. 1868–1889), writer on Japan
Norman Macleod (1783–1862), writer (in Gaelic) and minister of the Church of Scotland
Norman Macleod (1812–1872), writer (in Gaelic and English) and minister of the Church of Scotland
James McLevy (1793/4–1873), detective and writer on crime
William Miller Macmillan, leading scholar of the liberal South African historiography that emerged in the 1920s and started diminishing in the 1970s
Ron McMillan (b. 1958), travel writer, crime writer and photo-journalist
Sarah Broom Macnaughtan (1864–1916), novelist and Red Cross volunteer
Aonghas MacNeacail (b. 1942), poet (in Gaelic)
Kevin MacNeil (living), novelist, poet and playwright
F. Marian McNeill (1885–1973), ethnographer and food writer
Hector Macneill (1746–1818), poet and song-writer
Robert Macnish (1802–1837), writer and physician
Hector Macpherson (1851–1924), biographer and political writer
James Macpherson (1736–1796), poet and feigned translator of the "Ossian" poems
Sharon McPherson (b. 1965), writer and publisher
David MacRitchie (1851–1925), folklorist
Angus MacVicar (1908–2001), crime and SF writer
Candia McWilliam (b. 1955), novelist
Wes Magee (b. 1939), poet and children's writer
Richard Maitland (1496–1586), poet (in Middle Scots) and judge
John Major (awa Mair, 1497–1550), philosopher (in Latin and English)
Sir John Malcolm (1769–1833), historian, army officer and colonial official
David Mallet (c. 1705–1765), playwright and poet
Ann Marie Di Mambro (b. 1950), playwright and scriptwriter
Laura Marney (living), novelist
Theodore Martin (1816–1909), poet, biographer and translator
Ernest Marwick (1915– 1977), writer on Orkney folklore and history
James David Marwick (1826–1908), historian and politician
Allan Massie (b. 1938), novelist and journalist
David Masson (1822–1907), critic and historian
David I. Masson (1915–2007), science-fiction writer and librarian
Graham Masterton (born 1946), horror writer
Colin Matthew (1941–1999), editor and historian, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Gavin Maxwell (1914–1969), naturalist and travel writer, Ring of Bright Water
Herbert Maxwell (1845–1937), novelist, historian and politician
Peter May (b. 1951), novelist and screenwriter
James Meek (b. 1962), novelist and journalist
Andrew Norman Meldrum (1876–1934), chemist and historian
Andrew Melville (1545–1622), classicist, theologian and university reformer
Elizabeth Melville (c.1578 – c.1640), poet
James Mill (1773–1836), historian and economist
John Millar (1735–1801), philosopher and historian
Mark Millar (b. 1969), comic book writer
Hugh Miller (1802–1856), geologist
Judith Miller (b. 1951), writer and broadcaster on antiques
Karl Miller (b. 1931), critic and biographer
Denise Mina (b. 1966), crime writer and playwright
Alexander Ferrier Mitchell (1822–1899), church historian and Church of Scotland minister
Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), novelist and poet
Rosalind Mitchison (1919–2002), social historian
David Macbeth Moir (1798–1851), poet, essayist and physician
David Binning Monro (1836–1905), classicist and polymath
Alexander Montgomerie (c. 1550–1598), poet (in Middle Scots)
James Montgomery (1771–1854), editor, hymnwriter and poet
John Moore (1729–1802), physician and novelist
Edwin Morgan (b. 1920), poet (in Scots)
David R. Morrison (1941–2012), poet and essayist
Ewan Morrison, novelist and screenwriter
Grant Morrison (b. 1960), comic book writer and playwright
A. J. Morton (living), historian
William Motherwell (1797–1835), poet and antiquary
Edwin Muir (1887–1959), novelist and poet
Willa Muir (awa Agnes Neill Scott, 1890–1970), novelist and translator
Helen and Morna Mulgray (b. 1939), crime writers
Neil Munro (awa Hugh Foulis, 1863–1930), humorist, novelist and critic
Neil Gordon Munro (1863–1942), anthropologist
Robert Munro 1835–1920, archaeologist
Charles Murray (1864–1941), poet
James Mylne (1757–1839), moral philosopher
Robert Mylne (c. 1643–1747), lampooner and antiquary

N

Tom Nairn (b. 1932), political writer and essayist
Carolina Nairne (or. Oliphant, 1766–1845), songwriter and collector
Bill Napier (b. 1940), novelist and science writer
James Napier (1810–1884), antiquary and chemist
Macvey Napier (1776–1847), solicitor, legal scholar, and editor of Encyclopædia Britannica
Mark Napier (1798–1879), historian
Adam Neale (died 1832), army physician and author
Charles Neaves (1800–1876), poet, critic and jurist
Patrick Neill (1776–1851), naturalist and travel writer
William Neill (1922–2010), poet (in Scots, Gaelic and English)
Robin Neillands (1935–2006), travel and military writer
John Niven (living), novelist and screenwriter

O

Robert Maxwell Ogilvie (1932–1981), classicist
William Ogilvie of Pittensear (1736–1819), classicist and reformer
William Henry Ogilvie (1869–1963), poet
Andrew O'Hagan (b. 1968), novelist and essayist
Laurence Oliphant (1829–1888), novelist, travel writer and mystic
Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897), novelist, historian and travel writer
Thomas Oliphant (1799–1873), writer and composer
Neil Oliver (b. 1967), writer and TV presenter
Richard Oram (living), historian and biographer
James Orr (1844–1913), church historian and United Presbyterian Church minister
John Oswald (d. 1793), philosopher, poet and social critic

P

Isabel Pagan (c.1740–1821), poet of the Romantic Era.
Janet Paisley (b. 1948), writer, playwright and poet (in Scots and English)
Mungo Park (1771–1806), explorer and travel writer
Aileen Paterson (b. 1934), children's writer
Don Paterson (b. 1963), poet
William Paul (b. 1955), novelist and editor
G. C. Peden (living), economic historian
Alexander Petrie (1881–1979), classicist
Ricardo Pinto (b. 1961), fantasy writer
Robert Pollok (c. 1798–1827), poet and minister of the United Secession Church
Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison (1856–1931), philosopher
Richard Price (b. 1966), poet, novelist and translator

Q

John Quigley (b. 1925), novelist

R

Janet Milne Rae (1844–1933), novelist and missionary
Robert Rait (1874–1936), historian
Allan Ramsay (1686–1758), poet
Caro Ramsay (living), crime writer
Edward Bannerman Ramsay (1793–1872), clergyman of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and author of Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character
William Mitchell Ramsay (1851–1939), archaeologist and biblical scholar
Ian Rankin (b. 1960), crime writer, Inspector Rebus
P. J. G. Ransom (living), transport writer
Alastair Reid (b. 1926), poet, scholar and translator
Thomas Reid (1710–1796), philosopher
Robert Rendall (1898–1967), Orkney Scottish poet, and amateur naturalist
William Richardson (1743–1814), classicist and critic
Edith Anne Robertson (1883–1973), poet who wrote in both English and Scots
James Robertson (b. 1958), novelist and poet
William Robertson (1721–1793), historian and Church of Scotland minister
Michael Scott Rohan (b. 1951), fantasy and SF writer
Dilys Rose (b. 1954), poet and novelist
David R. Ross (1958–2010), history and travel writer
W. D. Ross (1877–1971), philosopher
William Roughead (1870–1952), writer on crime and lawyer
John Row (1568–1646), historian and Church of Scotland minister
J.K. Rowling (b. 1965), English-born writer of the Harry Potter series
Brian Ruckley (living), fantasy writer
Thomas Ruddiman (1674–1757), classicist
Charlotte Runcie (b. 1989), poet
Christopher Rush (b. 1944), novelist and children's writer
David Syme Russell (1916–2010), theologian and Baptist minister
William Russell (1741–1793), miscellanist
Samuel Rutherford (1600?–1661), Presbyterian pastor, theologian and author, and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly
Margaret Ryan (living), children's writer

S

Suhayl Saadi (b. 1961), novelist and dramatist
Alexander Scott (c. 1520 – c. 1583), poet
Alexander Scott (1920–1989), poet
Tom Scott (1918–1995), poet and critic
Andrew Murray Scott (b. 1955), novelist
Manda Scott (awa Kellen Stewart, b. 1962), crime writer and vet
Michael Scott (1789–1835), novelist
Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), novelist and poet
Ann Scott-Moncrieff (1914–1943), poet and story writer
Charles Kenneth Scott Moncrieff (1889–1930), writer, translator of Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu
W. C. Sellar (1898–1951), humorist, 1066 and All That (with R. J. Yeatman)
William Young Sellar (1825–1890), classicist
Francis Sempill (1616?–1682), poet and wit
Sir James Sempill (1566–1625/1626), author of protestant literature, and diplomat
Robert Sempill (c. 1530–1595), narrative poet (in Middle Scots)
Robert Sempill the younger (1595?–1663?), poet, early user of the Standard Habbie stanza
James Seth (1860–1925), philosopher
William Sharp (awa Fiona MacLeod, 1855–1905), poet and biographer
Nan Shepherd (1893–1981), novelist and poet
Sara Sheridan (b. 1968), novelist
Robert Sibbald (1641–1722), historian and physician
J David Simons (b. 1953), novelist
George Sinclair (1787–1834), garden writer and horticulturalist
John Sinclair (1754–1835), writer on finance and agriculture
Burns Singer (1928–1964), poet and translator
William Forbes Skene (1809–1892), historian and editor
John Skinner (1721–1807), historian, songwriter and Episcopal minister
William Henry Oliphant Smeaton (1856–1914), biographer and children's writer
William Smellie (1740–1795), antiquary and encyclopaedist
Samuel Smiles (1812–1904), writer and politician, Self-Help
Adam Smith (1723–1790), political economist, The Wealth of Nations
Alexander Smith (1829–1867), poet and essayist
Alexander McCall Smith (b. 1948), crime writer
Ali Smith (b. 1962), novelist
George Adam Smith (1856–1942), theologian and scholar
Iain Crichton Smith (1928–1998), poet and novelist (in Gaelic and English)
James Smith of Jordanhill (1782–1867), man of letters
Sydney Goodsir Smith (1915–1975), poet and novelist (in Scots, Lallans and English)
Tobias Smollett (1721–1771), novelist and poet, The Adventures of Roderick Random
Christopher Smout (b. 1933), Historiographer Royal
William Ritchie Sorley (1855–1935), philosopher
William Soutar (1898–1943), poet and diarist (in English, Scots and Lallans)
Alexander Souter (1873–1949), Biblical scholar
John Spalding (fl. 1650), annalist
Muriel Spark (1918–2006), novelist (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie)
Alan Spence (living), poet, novelist and playwright
Lewis Spence (1874–1955), ethnographer, occultist and poet
John Spottiswoode (1565–1639), historian and archbishop
William Gordon Stables (1840–1910), children's writer and naval surgeon
Adam Stark (1784–1867), local historian
James Brunton Stephens (1835–1902), poet and novelist
John Sterling (1806–1844), poet, essayist and fantasy writer
Gerda Stevenson (living), dramatist and actress
D. E. Stevenson (1892–1973), novelist
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894), novelist, poet and travel writer, Treasure Island
Dugald Stewart (1753–1828), philosopher
Ena Lamont Stewart (1912–2006), playwright
John Stewart of Baldynneis (c. 1545 – c. 1605), poet and translator (in Middle Scots)
William Stewart (c. 1478–1548), poet (in Scots)
Norman Stone (b. 1941), historian
John Struthers (1776–1853), poet and miscellanist
Sheila Stuart (1892–1974), children's writer
Luke Sutherland (b. 1971), novelist and musician
Annie Shepherd Swan (awa David Lyall and Mrs Burnet-Smith, 1859–1943), romantic novelist

T

Reay Tannahill (1929–2007), historian and novelist
Robert Tannahill (1774–1810), poet
Alasdair and Hettie Tayler (1870–1937 and 1869–1951), historians
Rachel Annand Taylor (1876–1960), poet, biographer and critic
William Tennant (1784–1848), scholar, poet and playwright
Josephine Tey (real name Elizabeth Mackintosh, awa Gordon Taviot, 1896–1952), mystery writer and playwright
Eleanor Thom (b. 1979), novelist
William Thom (1799–1848), poet (in Scots)
Thomas the Rhymer (also known as Thomas Learmonth, c. 1220 – c. 1298), rhymester and prophet
May Miles Thomas (b. 1959), screenwriter
D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1860–1948), polymath, On Growth and Form
Derick Thomson (awa Ruaraidh MacThòmais, 1921–2012), poet (in Gaelic), critic and publisher
James Thomson (1700–1748), poet, The Seasons
James Thomson (B.V.) (1834–1882), poet
Thomas Thomson (1768-1852), advocate, antiquarian and archivist
D. R. Thorpe (b. 1943), biographer
Margaret Todd (c.1859–1918), novelist, biographer and doctor
Ruthven Todd (1914–1978), poet, novelist and children's writer
Jeff Torrington (1935–2008), novelist
Thomas Toughill (living), non-fiction writer
Nigel Tranter (1909–2000), historical novelist and historian
Alexander Trocchi (1925–1984), novelist and cultural activist
William Barclay Turnbull (1811–1863), antiquary
Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747–1813), lawyer and writer
Patrick Fraser Tytler (1791–1849), historian and biographer

U

Betty Miller Unterberger (born 1922), historian, first woman professor at Texas A&M University
Joan Ure (Elizabeth Thoms Clark) (1918–1978), poet and playwright
Sir Thomas Urquhart (1611–1660), writer and translator

W

Frank Arneil Walker (born 1938), architectural academic and writer
Elizabeth, Lady Wardlaw (1677–1727), balladeer (in Middle Scots)
Alan Warner (b. 1964), novelist
Alan Watson (b. 1933), legal scholar
D. E. R. Watt (1926–2004), historian
William Montgomery Watt (1909–2006), historian and biographer, Muhammad at Mecca
William J. Watson (1865–1948), toponymist
William Watson (1931–2005), novelist and playwright
Molly Weir (1910–2004), memoirist and actress
Tom Weir (1914–2006), naturalist and broadcaster
Irvine Welsh (b. 1961), novelist, Trainspotting
Louise Welsh (b. 1965), thriller writer
Mortimer Wheeler (1890–1976), archaeologist
Kenneth White (b. 1936), poet and academic
Brian Whittingham (b. 1950), poet and playwright
Christopher Whyte (b. 1952), novelist, poet and translator (English and Gaelic)
Jack Whyte (b. 1940), historical novelist and fantasy writer
William the Clerk (possibly William Malveisin, d. 1238), poet (in Old French), Roman de Fergus
Peter Williamson (1730–1799), known as "Indian Peter", memoirist and showman
Robert Willis (1799–1878), translator and writer on medicine and philosophy
John Wilson (awa Christopher North, 1785–1854), writer and critic
Rab Wilson (b. 1960), poet, who writes mainly in Scots
David Wingate (1828–1892), poet and miner
David Wishart (b. 1952), historical crime writer
Robert Wodrow (1679–1734), historian
Harry Harvey Wood (1903–1977), literary and artistic figure, a founder of the Edinburgh International Festival
John Philip Wood (d. 1838), antiquary and biographer
Jenny Wormald (living), historian

Y

Andrew Young (1885–1971), poet and Presbyterian minister, later Church of England cleric
Douglas Young (1913–1973), poet, scholar and translator

List of Scottish writers

List of Scottish writers

Contents

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

W

Y

See also

Categories

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Suggestions

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