Christopher Rush (born 23 November 1944) is a Scottish writer, born in

St Monans ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

and for thirty years a teacher of literature in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. His books include ''A Twelvemonth and a Day'' (chosen by '' The List'' magazine in 2005 as one of the 100 best Scottish books of all time) and the highly acclaimed ''To Travel Hopefully''. In 1983 Rush initiated a literary debate in ''The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment'' by suggesting that the up-and-coming generation of Scottish poets drew less on their native places than their elders.Rush, Christopher (1983), ''Elephants in Anstruther: In Search of the Scottish Identity'', in Lindsay, Maurice (ed.), ''The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment'' 31, August 1983, pp. 43 - 48, ''A Twelvemonth and a Day'' served as inspiration for the film ''

Venus Peter ''Venus Peter'' is a 1989 British film directed by Ian Sellar and produced by Christopher Young for Young films. The film is an adaptation of the novel ''A Twelvemonth and a Day'' by Christopher Rush. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard ...

'', released in 1989. The story was also reworked by Rush in a simplified version in 1992 as a children's picture book, ''Venus Peter Saves the Whale'', illustrated by

Mairi Hedderwick Mairi Hedderwick (born 2 May 1939) is a Scottish illustrator and author, known for the '' Katie Morag'' series of children's picture books set on the Isle of Struay, a fictional counterpart of the inner Hebridean island of Coll where Hedderwic ...

, which won the

Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) is an international network of environmental organizations in 73 countries. The organization was founded in 1969 in San Francisco by David Brower, Donald Aitken and Gary Soucie after Brower's split with ...

1993 Earthworm Award for the book published that year that would most help children to enjoy and care for the Earth. His 2007 book ''

Will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

'' recounts the life of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

in the first person, and has been optioned for a movie by

Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two ...

. It was published by Beautiful Books Limited (UK). Rush also wrote a memoir of Shakespeare called ''Sex, Lies and Shakespeare'', published by Beautiful Books Limited in 2009 (UK). Rush now lives near his childhood home.

Bibliography

Books

* ''Resurrection of a Kind'' (1984) * ''A Twelvemonth and a Day'', Aberdeen University Press (1985). * ''Peace Comes Dropping Slow'', Ramsay Head Press, Edinburgh (1989), * ''Into the Ebb'' (1989) * ''Venus Peter Saves the Whale'' (1992) * ''Last Lesson of the Afternoon'' (1994) * ''To Travel Hopefully'' (2006) * ''Hellfire and Herring'' (Hardback & Paperback) (2006) * ''

'' (Beautiful Books Limited) (2007) * ''Sex, Lies and Shakespeare'' (Beautiful Books Limited) (2009) * ''Aunt Epp's Guide for Life - from chastity to copper kettles, musings of a Victorian Lady'' (Michael O'Mara Books Limited) (2009)

Articles

* ''Elephants in

Anstruther Anstruther ( sco, Ainster or Enster ; gd, Ànsruthair) is a small coastal resort town in Fife, Scotland, situated on the north-shore of the Firth of Forth and south-southeast of St Andrews. The town comprises two settlements, Anstruther ...

: In Search of the Scottish Identity'', in Lindsay, Maurice (ed.), ''The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment'' 31, August 1983, pp. 43 – 48, * Review of ''Noise and Smoky Breath: An Illustrated Anthology of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

Poems 1900 - 1983'' edited by Hamish Whyte, in Lindsay, Maurice (ed.), ''The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment'' 31, August 1983, pp. 51 – 53,

Reviews

* Urquhart, Fred (1983), review of ''Peace Comes Dropping Slow'', in Lindsay, Maurice (ed.), 'The Scottish Review: Arts and Environment'' 31, August 1983, pp. 50 & 51, * Wallace, Gavin ( 1984), ''A Scottish Triptych'', which includes a review of ''Peace Comes Dropping Slow'', in Hearn, Sheila G. (ed.), ''

Cencrastus ''Cencrastus'' was a magazine devoted to Scottish and international literature, arts and affairs, founded after the Referendum of 1979 by students, mainly of Scottish literature at Edinburgh University, and with support from Cairns Craig, then a ...

'' No. 15, New Year 1984, pp.53 & 54,

References

External links