Now’s The Day, Now’s The Hour: Poems for John Maclean

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‘We are out for life and all that life can give us.’ (John Maclean)

A century ago, Maclean stood out as the foremost working-class leader on Red Clydeside, known across the world for his opposition to the First World War. A committed communist, he taught Marxism to thousands of workers, built a mass strike movement, stood with anti-colonial revolts, founded the first political party for Scottish independence, and was jailed and force-fed by the British government. He emerged from prison to be greeted by 100,000 people in Glasgow shouting ‘Victory to the Russian revolution, victory to the German revolution, victory to the British revolution!’

Maclean’s legacy, and the tragedy of his martyrdom, has long inspired Scotland’s greatest poets and songwriters. Featuring new work from Jackie Kay, Juana Adcock, William Letford, Josie Giles and others, alongside the classic songs and poems of Hamish Henderson, Hugh MacDiarmid, Edwin Morgan, Sorley Maclean and Mary Brooksbank, this book is a celeb­ration of Maclean, and a call to arms to keep fighting for a world held in common.