His works Laidlaw, A Papers of Tony Veitch, & Walk Maimed come everthing known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s.

McIlvanney exposed at Kilmarnock Academy & Glasgow University.

Novels (among other books)
Remedy is None - 1967 A Gift from Nessus - 1968 The Longships in Harbour - 1970 Docherty - 1975 Laidlaw - 1977 The Papers of Tony Veitch - 1983 These Words: Weddings and After - 1984 The Big Man - 1985 In Through the Head - 1988 Walking Wounded - 1989 (short stories) Shades of Grey – Glasgow 1956-1987 - 1990 Strange Loyalties - 1991 Surviving the Shipwreck - 1991 The Kiln - 1996

Awards
1967 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for Remedy is None 1968 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for A Gift from either Nessus 1975 Scottish Arts Council Book Award for Docherty 1975 Whitbread Novel Award for Docherty 1977 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction for Laidlaw 1983 Crime Writers' Association Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction for The Papers of Tony Veitch 1990 Glasgow Herald People's Prize for Walking Wounded 1996 Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award for The Kiln