Presented by The Alasdair Gray Archive, this event celebrates 45 years since the publication of Lanark, a landmark of modern Scottish literature by Alasdair Gray.

To mark the occasion, Rachelle Atalla will read from her newly commissioned short story, Waste Management, which delves into Glasgow’s hidden subterranean layers, drawing inspiration from Lanark and the city’s sanitation infrastructure. The commission was developed in partnership with Creative Writing at the University of Strathclyde. Atalla will be joined by course tutor Rodge Glass, who will discuss the project and its connections to Gray’s work.

Atalla is a Scottish-Egyptian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter based in Glasgow. Her writing has appeared widely in print and broadcast, including on BBC Radio 4, and she is a recipient of the Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.

This event is part of the 2026 Spring Fling: About Time. For full programme details and bookings, please visit our collection.

This event is free, but ticketed. Reserve a spot.

If you have any access requirements, please contact ARCEngage@Glasgow.ac.uk.