Irvine Welsh Inspired by Jane Austen!

By James Wray Jan 3, 2005, 3:32 GMT

Welsh made the revelations to Scottish University academic Dr. Aaron Kelly, who writing a book about Welsh.

Speaking to Dr Kelly he said: "They're still to me, the greatest books ever written by English novelists."

Dr Kelly said: "I think this will surprise people but it shows that he didn't come out of nowhere."

Although his books and style may seem a million miles from that of Austen he insists he is a big fan of many 18th and 19th century writers. His other books include "Porno", "Filth", "The Acid House" and "Marabou Stork Nightmares".

Here is an extract from "Filth" by Irvine Welsh:

I got three sheets last night and this lighting is nipping my heid and my bowels are as greasy as a hoor's chuff at the end of a shift doon the sauna. I fart silently but move swiftly to the other side of the room. The technique is to let the fart ooze out a bit before you head off, or you just take it with you in your troosers tae the next port of call. It's like the fitba, you have to time your runs. My friend and neighbour, Tom Stronach, a professional footballer and a fanny-merchant extraordinaire, knows all about that.

And one from Jane Austin's “Pride and Prejudice”:

`What an excellent father you have, girls,'' said she, when the door was shut. ``I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me either, for that matter. At our time of life, it is not so pleasant I can tell you, to be making new acquaintance every day; but for your sakes, we would do any thing. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.'

It has to be said that it is hard to see it in his prose, but inspiration does it seem come from unlikely places.