Irvine Welsh – Scottish novelist of the late 20th–21st century, author of Trainspotting and Porno, cult books portraying Edinburgh’s gritty life and the 1990s generation. His writing is raw, experimental, steeped in dialect and dark humour, making him a defining voice of British counterculture.
✨ His debut Trainspotting (1993) became an instant sensation. 🎬 The 1996 Danny Boyle film adaptation achieved cult status worldwide. 📚 Characters recur across his novels, creating an interconnected universe. 🎸 Before writing, he played in punk bands and worked in construction. 💬 Known for heavy use of Scottish dialect to capture authenticity. 🌍 Also wrote plays and screenplays, collaborating with theatres and filmmakers. 🍻 Explores addiction, marginalisation, and rebellion in modern society. 🤔 Curious: several publishers rejected Trainspotting for being too shocking. 😄 Funny: once joked his typing was so loud that “the neighbours thought it was punk drumming.”