The Red Cockatoo is the first full-length study of the work of James Kelman to take full cognisance of the author's political commitments and activism throughout his career. But what exactly are Kelman's politics - his 'art of commitment'? Why do so many critics insist on an absolute separation between his novels and his political writings - indeed, insist upon their incompatibility, when the author himself states this is not the case? With exclusive access to 13 hours of documentary film shot at Kelman's 1990 conference 'Self Determination and Power' where Noam Chomsky was the main speaker, this insightful, comprehensive survey of the writer's life and work reveals a Kelman rarely seen; complex, committed and heavily involved in shaping radical politics. Book jacket.