This is an utterly charming story about twelve families and their tightly knit street in 1950s Maryhill. Following the end of the war, the close rebuilds its ties and the strong sense of community and friendly neighbourhood bonds are soon back in place. There is young love for Rhea and Robert; a surprising new start for James; a change of direction for George; and all overseen by the matriarch of the street – Granny Thomson. And of course, all buoyed up by a big helping of Scottish humour and strength of spirit. Yet it is all not perfect in their world: the families have to deal with poverty, religious bigotry, racism, heartbreak, lies, violence and death.
But the powerful friendships cannot ultimately be broken. In Robert Douglas’s first novel, he recreates a time and place particular to Glasgow but to which everyone will relate.
But the powerful friendships cannot ultimately be broken. In Robert Douglas’s first novel, he recreates a time and place particular to Glasgow but to which everyone will relate.
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Reviews
'The literary equivalent of a hot water bottle'
'An outstanding novel with a cast of characters so beautifully drawn that turning the last page feels like flitting out of 18 Dalbeattie Street'
'Pure dead brilliant, so it is... a rare old read for folk that were round and about in the Forties and Fifties'
'Douglas's prose is simple and charming... this novel will appeal to fans of Douglas's previous trips down memory lane'
'Echoes the bygone charm and ingrained hardship of growing up at a time when rationing and families living in single end tenements were commonplace, yet laughter never seemed in short supply'
'It's a braw read!'