Scottish author Allan Massie, who wrote more than 20 novels and many works of nonfiction on a range of subjects, died February 3, the Guardian reported. In addition to his books, he was the Scotsman's chief literary critic for more than 25 years. He also wrote columns, diaries, book reviews, essays, and articles on everything from sports to the state of the nation for publications including the Spectator and the Daily Mail.
Massie's books include The Caesars (1983), A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (1984), and critical studies Muriel Spark (1979) and Colette (1986). It was his novels, however, for which "Allan preferred to be known," the Guardian noted. The first, Change and Decay in All Around I See (1978), with "a cast of drunks, gamblers and other dissolute characters... examined a bohemian Britain in the process of renouncing its claim to greatness."
His second, The Last Peacock (1980), returned to the theme, and was followed by The Death of Men, set in Rome where, in the 1970s, Massie had taught English. The Guardian noted that with his sixth novel, A Question of Loyalties (1989), winner of the Saltire Society/Scotsman book of the year award, "Allan finally found a voice and subject true to himself. It was the first of 'a loose trilogy,' which included The Sins of the Father (1991) and Shadows of Empire (1997), set largely in occupied France during the second world war."
"Difficulty of coming to firm moral conclusions," Massie said in 1990. "Interaction of public and personal life. Relationship of the individual to social background and landscape. Also, of how much people choose their own life."
Massie wrote a series of six novels about ancient Rome, beginning with Augustus (1986) and concluding with Caligula (2003). His series of four crime novels featuring Superintendent Lannes (2010-2015) "was much praised for its evocation of Bordeaux during the second world war," the Guardian wrote, adding that although "the books were not based on direct experience, it was the kind of praise that Allan was very happy to accept." In 2013 he was appointed CBE.