Matthew Fitt (born 1968) is a Scots poet and novelist. He was writer-in-residence at Greater Pollok in Glasgow, then National Scots Language Development Officer. He has translated several literary works into Scots.

Early life

Fitt was born in 1968 in

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

, Scotland. His mother was a journalist, working for publications such as Mandy. His great-grandfather William Beharrie was a novelist who wrote in Scots. In his final year of school, his teachers showed him the works of

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

and Hugh MacDiarmid. After he graduated from university, he became a teacher but continued to write.

Literary career

He was writer-in-residence at Greater Pollok in Glasgow, later National Scots Language Development Officer. In 2002, together with James Robertson and Susan Rennie, he co-founded

Itchy Coo Itchy may refer to: Entertainment Characters * A fictional animated mouse in ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'', the show-within-a-show on ''The Simpsons'' * Attichitcuk, Chewbacca's father in 1978's ''The Star Wars Holiday Special'', nicknamed "Itch ...

, a publishing

imprint Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...

and educational project to reintroduce schoolchildren to the Scots tongue. His best known work and debut novel is ''

But'n'Ben A-Go-Go ''But n Ben A-Go-Go'' is a science fiction work by Scots writer Matthew Fitt, notable for being entirely in the Scots language. The novel was first published in 2000. According to the author, as many of the different varieties of Scots as poss ...

'', a

cyberpunk Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech", featuring futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and ...

novel in Lowland Scots. Earlier works included ''The Hoose O Haivers'', a loose retelling of the ''Metamorphoses'' of

Ovid Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (; 20 March 43 BC – 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid ( ), was a Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a contemporary of the older Virgil and Horace, with whom ...

in Scots and ''The Smoky Smirr O Rain'', a Scots anthology. He wrote the lyrics to ''Icker in a Thrave'', the 2007 Scots entry for the Liet-Lavlut song contest for minority languages in Europe. The tune was written by Simon Thoumire, and the song was performed by Mairi Campbell (singing), Kevin Mackenzie (guitar), Clare McLaughlin (fiddle), and Simon Thoumire (concertina). Fitt has translated several

Asterix ''Asterix'' or ''The Adventures of Asterix'' (french: Astérix or , "Asterix the Gaul") is a ''bande dessinée'' comic book series about a village of indomitable Gaulish warriors who adventure around the world and fight the Roman Republic, wi ...

books into Scots. The first was ''

Asterix and the Picts ''Asterix and the Picts'' is the 35th book in the Asterix series, and is the first book to be written by someone other than René Goscinny or Albert Uderzo. It was written by Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrated by Didier Conrad. The English-language ...

'' (''Asterix and the Pechts''), published in 2013. He has also translated several

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter ace of Norwegian descent. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Dahl has be ...

novels, including ''

The Twits ''The Twits'' is a humorous children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. It was written in 1979, and first published by Jonathan Cape in 1980. The story features The Twits (Mr. and Mrs. Twit), a spiteful, idle unke ...

'' (''The Eejits''), ''

George's Marvellous Medicine ''George's Marvellous Medicine'' (known as ''George's Marvelous Medicine'' in the US) is a book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. First published by Jonathan Cape in 1981, it features George Kranky, an eight-year-old boy wh ...

'' (''Geordie’s Mingin Medicine'') and ''

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. The story was originall ...

'' (''Chairlie and the Chocolate Works''), and, in 2018, J. K. Rowling's '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stane''. In May 2020, he was awarded the

Scottish Book Trust Scottish Book Trust is a national charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland promoting literature, reading and writing in Scotland. Scottish Book Trust works with and for a range of audiences, including babies and parents (through the Bookbug program ...

's outstanding contribution to children's books award. In December 2021, he became the cofounder and editor of Scots-language magazine Eemis Stane.

Bibliography

* ''Pure Radge'' (1996). Kirkcaldy, Akros Publications. * ''Sairheid City'' (1999). Angus, Kettillonia Press. * ''Gaberlunzie Joe (Itchy Coo Series)'' (2002). Edinburgh, Black and White Publishing. * ''But'n'Ben A-Go-Go'' (2005). Dundee, Luath Press. * (with James Robertson) ''The Smoky Smirr O Rain: A Scots Anthology (Itchy Coo Series)''. Edinburgh, Black and White Publishing. (2003) * (with James Robertson and Bob Dewar) ''King O the Midden: Manky Mingin Rhymes in Scots (Itchy Coo Series)''. Edinburgh, Black and White Publishing. (2003) * (with James Robertson and Susan Rennie ''The Hoose O Haivers (Itchy Coo Series)''. Edinburgh, Black and White Publishing. (2002) * ''Time Tram Dundee ''. Dundee City Council by Waverley Books. (2006)

References

External links

* * University of Dunde
explains the Itchy Coo project
* Text and commentary o

which was listed in ''Best Scottish Poems, 2004''
Itchy Coo
– Braw Books for Bairns o Aw Ages

– music tae "Icker in a Thrave" * 1968 births 20th-century Scottish novelists 20th-century Scottish poets 21st-century Scottish novelists 21st-century Scottish poets Cyberpunk writers Lallans poets Living people People from Dundee Poets from Dundee Scots-language poets Scottish science fiction writers {{Scotland-writer-stub