Matthew Fitt
(born 1968 -) - Dundee
Matthew Fitt has lived all over the world: Prague, New York and Sydney but now lives in Lanarkshire. He is a writer and teacher who goes to schools encouraging pupils and teachers to feel more confident in their use of the Scots language.
His passion for the Scots language led him, in 2001, to co-found, with James Robertson and Black & White Publishing, the imprint Itchy-Coo; which is a press for children's books in Scots. The company describes itself as offering 'braw books for bairns o aw ages'.
Fitt fills the role of Education Officer at Itchy-Coo as well as continuing to write. He has been a writer in residence at Greater Pollok and a Brownsbank Fellow (Brownsbank Cottage being the former home of poet Hugh MacDiarmid).
He has visited Holland and the Czech Republic through the British Council in a bid to introduce Scots language and culture to young people; a help in times of Europe-wide migration.
Fitt has published many works, but is best known for But N Ben A-Go-Go, a cyberpunk novel set in a futuristic Scotland; Kate O Shanter's Tale: And Other Poems and the latest Itchy-Coo publication aimed at babies and toddlers, Katie's Moose. He also translates books into Scots, including a retelling of Hercules and a translation of Roald Dahl's The Twits, The Eejits.
- A Moose in the Hoose: Animal 123
This is a companion volume to the award-winning 'Animal ABC'. It is a counting book with a difference - busy beasties and humorous rhymes illustrate each number from 1 to 20. - Blethertoun Braes: Manky Mingin Rhymes Fae A Scottish Toun
A follow-up to the highly successful 'King o the Midden', 'Blethertoun Braes' is another book of manky, minging rhymes in Scots. This time the poems focus on an anonymous town, somewhere in Scotland, which children will recognise as their 'ain toun'. - But N Ben A-Go-Go
Scotland has sunk 300 feet under water as a result of God's flood. Only the Drylands (the Highlands) are left. A highly virulent strain of HIV has made all intimate contact deadly, and Paolo Broon is determined to find out who infected his wife. - The Eejits
Featuring the original illustrations by Quentin Blake, this is the much-loved Roald Dahl classic 'The Twits' in a new Scots language edition. Read Matthew Fitt's translation to find out what makes the Eejits so completely mingin. - Hercules: Bampots And Heroes
'Zeus, high-heid-yin o the gods and heid-bummer o the universe, had a son, and he cawed this son Hercules'. So begins Matthew Fitt's version of the ancient myth of Hercules, retold in the Scots language. - Kate O Shanter's Tale: And Other Poems
Read and recited at Burns Suppers all over the world, Kate o Shanter's Tale is a classic of modern Scots poetry. Complemented by more rants and whigmaleeries by Scots writer Matthew Fitt, this vibrant first collection engages as much as it entertains. - Katie's Moose: A Keek-A-Boo Book For Wee Folk
Babies and young children will love the simple story of Katie gathering up her animal friends in time for bed. Each page shows Katie looking for the Dug, the Pig, the Bear, the Craw, the Coo and of course the wee Moose. - King O The Midden: Manky Mingin Rhymes In Scots
If you don't like to read about things that are rude, scunnersome, surreal, bizarre or just plain daft then this collection of Scots poetry is not for you. On the other hand this collection cannot be bettered if you love the versatility and wonderful humour of the Scots language. - The Smoky Smirr O Rain: A Scots Anthology
This anthology contains a vast selection of literature in Scots. Arranged thematically into topics such as love, home, death, jealousy, pride, ambition, freedom, work and play, it gives teachers and students immense scope both for comparative analysis and exploration of the main concerns of individual authors. - Tam O'Shanter's Big Night Oot: Wee Plays In Scots
This collection of eight plays has been conceived and written by teachers and pupils from all over Scotland. Not only will this anthology give students access to modern Scots texts for speaking aloud, but it will also help to build confidence in writing in Scots. - Time Tram Dundee: A Journey Through The History Of Dundee
The City of Dundee has truly played a part in shaping Scotland. In this book, the Time Tram driver and conductor meet characters from the Mesolithinc middens 8000 years ago, when Dundee was founded, Iron and Stone Age Dundonians, William Wallace, the 19th century missionary Mary Slessor and even Desperate Dan. - A Wee Book O' Fairy Tales In Scots
A collection of six classic tales reworked into Scots: 'The Three Wee Pigs', 'Peerie Wee Rid Hood', 'Cinderella', 'Beauty and the Beast', 'Rumpelstiltskin' and 'The Three Bears'. - Wee Moose In The Hoose: A Scots Counting Book
'Wee Moose In The Hoose' is a Scots book of numbers that will give endless amusement to bairns and adults alike. Matthew Fitt and James Robertson's rhyming couplets not only take you from one to 20 but also introduce you to native creatures by their traditional Scots names.
Bibliography
- Pure Radge - 1996
- Sair Heid City - 1999
- But N Ben A-Go-Go - 2000
- Gaberlunzie Joe - 2002
- The Hoose O Haivers - 2002
- A Wee Book O' Fairy Tales in Scots - With James Robertson - 2003
- King O The Midden - Editor - 2003
- Tam O Stanter's Big Night Oot - Editor - 2003
- Animal 123 With James Robertson and Karen Sutherland - 2003
- The Smoky Smirr O Rain - Editor - 2003
- Blethertoun Braes - Editor - 2004
- Kate O Shanter's Tale - 2005
- Hercules - 2005
- Katie's Coo - 2005
- Wee Moose in the Hoose - With James Robertson and Karen Sutherland - 2006
- Katie's Moose - 2006
- The Eejits - 2006
- Time Tram Dundee - 2006
Other Books
- Scotnotes: But-n-Ben A-Go-Go - 2007
- Matthew Fitt's But N Ben A-Go-Go
The 'Scotnotes' booklets are a series of study guides to major Scottish writers and texts frequently used within literature courses, aimed at senior secondary school pupils and students in further education.