Irvine Welsh is a Scottish novelist, playwright, and short story writer. He is best known for his novel Trainspotting, which was later adapted into a critically acclaimed film. Welsh's work is characterized by its raw, darkly comic, and often profane examination of Edinburgh's working class. His other works include Glue, Filth, Porno, and Skagboys. Welsh has also written several plays and short stories, and has contributed to numerous anthologies. He is a major figure in the "Tartan Noir" movement, and his work has been translated into over twenty languages.