Allan Massie obituary

Acclaimed novelist and literary critic who was a staunch opponent of Scottish devolution In a career spanning more than half a century, the Scottish writer Allan Massie, who has died aged 87 of cancer, wrote more than 20 novels and numerous works of nonfiction. His diverse range of subjects included The Caesars (1983), A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (1984) and critical studies of Muriel Spark (1979) and Colette (1986). He was the Scotsman’s chief literary critic for more than 25 years, and as one of his editors there I looked forward to his faxed copy arriving invariably before deadline. Elsewhere he wrote columns, diaries, book reviews, essays and articles on everything from sport to the state of the nation for publications including the Spectator and Daily Mail.