Dunn, Douglas (Eaglesham) (1942– )

Scottish poet and short-story writer. His first book of verse, Terry Street (1969), mainly reflected working-class life. Elegies (1985), recalling his wife's death from cancer in 1981, won the Whitbread Book of the Year award. Later collections are Dante's Drum Kit (1993) and The Donkey's Ears (2000). Short stories with a variety of Scottish situations and settings are collected in Secret Villages (1985) and Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1995).

Dunn was born in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, and educated at the Scottish School of Librarianship. After working as a librarian at Hull University 1969–71, he became a freelance writer. He was appointed a professor of English and director of St Andrews Scottish Studies Institute, St Andrews University, in 1991. Other collections of poetry include The Year's Afternoon (2000), and New Selected Poems 1964–2000 (2002).