Dirt Road
2018 Nominated

Dirt Road

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Murdo, a teenager obsessed with music, dreams of a life beyond home. His recently widowed dad, Tom, stumbles towards the future, terrified of losing what remains of his family. Both are in search of something as they set out from rural Scotland on a journey to the American South.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR James
Kelman

James Kelman is a Scottish novelist. He was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1989 with A Disaffection, which also won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. He then went on to win the Booker Prize five years later with How Late It Was, How Late, before being shortlisted twice for the Man Booker International Prize, in 2009 and 2011. Dirt Road was shortlisted for the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year. His most recent book of stories, That Was a Shiver, was published by Canongate in 2017.

James Kelman is a Scottish novelist. He was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1989 with A Disaffection, which also won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. He then went on to win the Booker Prize five years later with How Late It Was, How Late, before being shortlisted twice for the Man Booker International Prize, in 2009 and 2011. Dirt Road was shortlisted for the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year. His most recent book of stories, That Was a Shiver, was published by Canongate in 2017.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find any translators matching your search. Please try using different keywords or check back later as we regularly update our collection.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

The protagonists in this vivid story are a 14 year-old boy and his father. The daughter, and more recently the mother in the family have died of cancer and father and son, unable to articulate their grief, travel from Scotland to southern USA to visit close relatives there. The story is told through the boy’s stream-of-consciousness, in true but understandable dialect, mapping his reactions, emotions, relationships, and his joy and salvation in music. A beautiful book.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
14/07/2016
Author
Publisher
Canongate Books

RELATED FEATURES

News May 21 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner Revealed

Discover this year's winner!
Video May 16 2026

Brigitte Giraud – Live Fast Q&A

Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.
Video May 12 2026

Laurent Binet – Perspective(s) Q&A

Check out our Q&A with Laurent Binet, author of shortlisted title Perspective(s), as he discusses the inspirations behind his work and reflects on the role libraries have played in shaping his journey
Video May 8 2026

Ali Smith – Gliff Q&A

Shortlisted author Ali Smith discusses the creative inspirations behind Gliff and reflects on the significance of libraries throughout her reading and writing life in our latest Q&A.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.