Acclaimed Scottish poet and novelist John Burnside has passed away at the age of 69. His publisher, Jonathan Cape, announced his death on Friday, confirming that Burnside had died on Wednesday following a short illness.

Burnside was a multi-award-winning writer, renowned for his contributions across several genres including poetry, novels, memoirs, and academic works. His notable awards include the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for "Feast Days" (1992), the Whitbread Poetry Award for "The Asylum Dance" (2000), the Saltire Book of the Year for "A Lie About My Father" (2006), and both the TS Eliot Prize and the Forward Poetry Prize for "Black Cat Bone" in 2011. In 2023, Burnside received the David Cohen Prize, honoring his entire body of work.

Born in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1955, Burnside spent his early years in Cowdenbeath and Corby, Northamptonshire. He studied English and European Literature at the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology. He was writer-in-residence at the University of Dundee and served as a professor at the University of St Andrews.

Burnside published his first collection, "The Hoop," in 1988 and continued to work with Jonathan Cape until the release of his final collection, "Ruin, Blossom," in 2024.

Hannah Westland, publishing director at Jonathan Cape, praised Burnside's ability to capture the marvels of both the natural world and daily life. Anna Webber, Burnside’s literary agent, highlighted his unique voice characterized by deep empathy and understanding.

Burnside is survived by his wife Sarah, sons Lucas and Gil, and grandson Apollo.