How Late It Was, How Late

How Late It Was, How Late is a novel published in 1994 by Scottish writer James Kelman. The work employs a stream-of-consciousness narrative style and a Glaswegian dialect of the Scots language variety. Set against the gritty backdrop of Glasgow, the narrative recounts the life of Sammy, a working-class man who, after a heavy drinking spree, gets into an altercation with local police agents and loses his sight as a result. The novel offers a stark portrayal of Sammy’s struggle to navigate a world that has become both physically and metaphorically dark. By focusing on the marginalization and disenfranchisement experienced by the protagonist, How Late It Was, How Late is a visceral exploration of disability, social injustice, and resilience. The use of dialect, the stream of consciousness narrative, and the lack of a clear plot challenges conventional literary norms. The narrative is not organized into chapters or sections. Rather, the narrative is continuous and ambiguous, switching from first to third person and back, while maintaining the focus on the Sammy’s perspective.

James Kelman was born in Glasgow in a working-class family.