Celtic Opus: A book of paradise

IT has brought together some of the biggest names in Scottish art, including composer James MacMillan, Beatles photographer Harry Benson, writers AL Kennedy, Hugh and William McIlvanney and popstar Paolo Nutini. But this is no Edinburgh Festival jamboree or Scottish Art Council project – it is a book about Celtic Football Club.

It is, however, no ordinary tome. The Celtic Opus has been three years in the making, weighs 40kg, is half a metre square and will cost an eye-watering 1,967.

One of the most eagerly awaited books in Scottish publishing, it will finally go on sale next week, charting the club's history and containing new writing on every aspect of the famous institution.

But, even to those with no interest in football, the book's array of artistic contributors make the publication a major event.

Composer MacMillan – a lifelong Celtic fan – has penned an original piece of music, with his handwritten score published in full.

Renowned photographer Benson, who became one of the world's most sought-after snappers after working with the Beatles and other 1960s icons, has allowed the publishers to print a selection of his work taken at various Celtic matches.

The McIlvanney brothers, Hugh and William, will be published together in the same book for the first time, author William penning a new short story based on the death of legendary Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson, who was killed during a match with Rangers. Hugh, meanwhile, has contributed a tribute to his sporting hero and Celtic legend Jinky Johnstone.

Writer AL Kennedy includes an account of her first game of football, originally commissioned by The Scotsman in 2008, while Paolo Nutini tells of his own passion for the club he has supported since boyhood.

Willie Maley professor of English at Glasgow University has written a poem in memory of Tommy Burns, the late Celtic manager, while historian, Professor Tom Devine, has penned a new essay on Glasgow's industrial past and its Irish community, placing the formation of the club in a proper historical and social context.

The artwork inside includes a tapestry depicting the Celtic Huddle by the well-known Scottish artist, Jilli Blackwood. Artist Steve Carroll also contributes a new painting, as does cartoonist Malky McCormick.

The book even contains images of a new dance based on the Celtic story, choreographed by BAFTA nominated Marisa Zanotti.

Such is the diversity of artistic talent included, Glasgow's Mitchell Theatre is hoping to stage an exhibition based on the book, says photo director Graeme Murdoch, who was brought on board to help create the Opus at the start of the project. He admits it has been a labour of love – he has been sacked from the project twice – but insists the quality of the contributions has made it worthwhile.

He said: "Getting such a range of people involved has not been easy. It has taken a lot of persuasion, a bit of cajoling. But many of those taking part are fans of the club, so they have done it for love, pure and simple. Celtic have been on board from the start, and just to be involved in such a project has been enough to generate interest.

"Some of the ideas, such as the new choreography, were ideas dreamed up over a pint or two. James MacMillan wanted to take part just because he liked the idea of a piece of music based on his beloved Celtic. Harry Benson is an old friend, so I managed to convince him to contribute.

"William McIllvanney was keen to take part, but couldn't find the inspiration for an original piece of work. I sent him a picture or two, one of them of John Thomson, and that sparked him off. His piece on the goalie who died playing for Celtic is amazing."

Journalist Kevin McKenna, the project's editor, said he wanted to make sure it was more than just another football book, saying: "The book is, for a start, completely different. It is ambitious and though it might not be everyone's cup of tea, I felt that as we had every other art form in there, we should include dance as well. There have been something like 300 books on all aspects of the club in the last 40-odd years, and currently there are around 40 in Waterstones.

"This book seeks to be something different – it's not a history, but it seeks to communicate the passion, the history, the drama and the romance of Celtic through the best possible writing. The contributors include some of the best writers and artists in Scotland, allied to some really stunning photography, much of it commissioned from some of the top photographers in the UK, plus some real archive stuff."

McKenna said that the "sheer physical scale" of the book – each page measures 0.5m sq – "means that a lot of the pictures, even ones that have been seen before, take on a new life. I am really pleased with it, and I'm delighted that there were so many artists of such quality who were willing to get involved.

"Rather than just have a few writers penning the bulk of it, I wanted to get as many involved as possible, Celtic supporters as well as non-Celtic supporters. There are lots of different voices in the book."

Even figures associated with Celtic's arch rivals Rangers agreed to contribute. The most successful Scottish manager of recent years, Sir Alex Ferguson, includes his own tribute to legendary boss Jock Stein, whiles Rangers stalwart Sandy Jardine tells of his memories of Old Firm mania during his playing days.

The Opus is produced by Guernsey-based Kraken, a publishing company that is part of the Kraken Group, a financial advisory business assembled in 2002 by Karl Fowler and other former employees of the Goldman Sachs Investment Bank.

The group publishes hugely expensive, limited-edition books on selected subjects. Others have included motor racing giants Ferrari, football legend Diego Maradona and Manchester United.

In a well-publicised stunt, the first ten copies of the Kraken Maradona book each contained a phial of the footballer's blood. Of similar allure to Celtic fans is the fact that each copy of the Celtic Opus will be signed by the surviving Lisbon Lions team that won the European Cup in 1967.

Fans wishing to own the book will have to dig deep, however. The Celtic Opus is strictly limited to a print run of 400 individually-numbered copies, on sale for 1,967 – the year Celtic won the European Cup.

With its silk-covered clam-shell case and hand-sewn leather binding, the Celtic Opus comes with a pair of white gloves to turn the pages. It might need a whole new bookcase to hold it, and it's certainly not something you can carry back from the local book shop. But it is likely to be the first – and last – time that so many of the Scottish art world's big names come together for one endeavour. Until they come up with a Rangers, Hearts or Hibs Opus, that is...

To order the Celtic Opus European Champions Edition, signed by all living members of the 1967 European Cup-winning squad, at the limited offer price of 1,967, visit www.krakenopus.com or call 020 72139587