Why does James Kelman use the first, second, and third person to represent Sammy’s inner thoughts?

Given the fraught political relationship between England and Scotland, what is the significance of Sammy choosing to leave Glasgow for England?

What is the significance of Helen’s absence in the novel?

Humanities

Books & Literature

Literary Area of Study

British Literature

Society

Class

Social Issues

Awards

The Booker Prizes Awardees & Honorees

James Kelman

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore How Late It Was, How Late reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read How Late It Was, How Late | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore How Late It Was, How Late and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

How Late It Was, How Late Summary and Study Guide

Background

How Late It Was, How Late Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Section 1 How Late It Was, How Late Section 1 Summary & Analysis

Section 2 How Late It Was, How Late Section 2 Summary & Analysis

Section 3 How Late It Was, How Late Section 3 Summary & Analysis

Section 4 How Late It Was, How Late Section 4 Summary & Analysis

Section 5 How Late It Was, How Late Section 5 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

How Late It Was, How Late Character Analysis

theme

Themes

How Late It Was, How Late Themes

Symbols & Motifs

How Late It Was, How Late Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

How Late It Was, How Late Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

How Late It Was, How Late Essay Topics

How Late It Was, How Late

Essay Topics

Featured Collections