William McIlvanney was a Scottish author and poet, born on November 25, 1936, in Kilmarnock, Scotland. He is best known for his novels that explore themes of identity, class, and the human condition, particularly in the context of Scottish society. His most famous works include Laidlaw, which is often credited with helping to establish the modern Scottish crime fiction genre. In addition to his novels, McIlvanney was a prominent essayist and wrote extensively on literature and culture. He received several awards throughout his career, including the Whitbread Book of the Year award. McIlvanney passed away on September 5, 2015, leaving a lasting impact on Scottish literature.