Get to know the city like a true scotsman when you stay at one of our glasgow hotels near the city center, theatre district, or airport. Glasgow is scotlands largest city, and one of the largest in the u. Jan 05, 2010 the glasgow evening times newspaper said no mean city had branded the city a collection of thugs and harlots and was the worst possible advertisement glasgow can have when the city is. Jun 08, 2015 alexander mcarthur no mean city a grim and unflinching read, no mean city was first published in 1935 and is set in the 1920s glasgow slums. No book is more associated with the city of glasgow than no mean city. Mar 20, 2018 slight diversion in my view the real first book of tartan noir is the terrible no mean city, about life in the slums of the gorbals published in 1935. It is a book for those people living all over the world who remember the old glasgow a city teeming with warmth. The two books set in glasgow feature many wellknown places, such as the art school. Available at all major book shops or purchase at amazon. He lived in the same street as its fictional razor king, johnnie stark, and subsequently realised that a lot of the old characters represented in the. Aug 09, 2017 glasgows crime specificities invariably go back to its origins as the great victorian second city of the empire. Banter is a term used to describe lively humourous conversation, usually between friends. His drab life changes radically when he mames someone with a shaving razer. Towards the end of the 20 th century the face of glasgow began to change.
But in glasgow you will hear banter from many people you dont know or have just met, e. Glasgow as a city has developed well into the 21 st century. No mean city violence and poverty in prewar glasgow. Jan 05, 2010 no book is more associated with the city of glasgow than no mean city, the latest edition boasts on its cover. A story of the glasgow slums alexander mcarthur of glasgow. It is an account of life in the gorbals, a rundown slum district of glasgow now mostly demolished, but rebuilt in a contemporary style with the hard men and the razor gangs. Its bustling metropolitan center is located on the river clyde and is an important seaport. I read this book almost 60 years ago i was then but it has always stayed with me. Alexander mcarthur no mean city a grim and unflinching read, no mean city was first published in 1935.
We follow johnnie stark, the son of a violent father and beaten mother, and his life in the razor king slum of glasgow s underworld, the gorbals. Glasgow is the 3rd largest city of the uk, the 56th largest cityof europe and the xxth largest city of the world. Factbox glasgows gangland novel no mean city reuters. First published in 1935, it is the story of johnnie stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the razor king of glasgows prewar slum underworld, the gorbals. Kingsley long and alexander mcarthur published a book that was to become a legendno mean city.
A friend of mine hopes to make an admittedly lowbudget film version in the us and requires any information. You must behave and be nice and search before posting. They actually banned no mean city from glasgow s public libraries. With jamie lee mcpherson, ben macleod, jonathan readwin, stormskyler mcclure. Hi folks can anyone tell me who owns the rights to the no mean city book, has it passed out of or is it held by a specific book publishers. From football to fashions, auchenshuggle to yoker, youll find it all here. Mr alexander mcarthur, an unemployed worker in a glasgow slum, with the help of mr kingsley long, a london journalist, has produced such a book in no mean city. Kingsley long, a journalist, and alexander mcarthur, an unemployed worker. The savage, neartruth descriptions, the raw character portrayals, bring to life a story that is fascinating, authentic and convincing. Theglasgowstory tells the story of glasgow in words and pictures, told by some of scotlands best writers, and illustrated with thousands of images from the collections of the city s worldfamous libraries, museums and universities.
Colin macfarlane was born in the gorbals in the 1950s, 20 years after the publication of no mean city, the classic novel about prewar life in what was once glasgow s most deprived district. Swhelper social welfare, social justice, and social good. In this essay i wish to analyse what made the gorbals the place it was in the 1930s and look at how the authors portrayed the gorbals as a place where men like johnnie stark could flourish. No book is associated with the city of glasgow than no mean city first published in 1935, it is the story of johnnie stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the razor king of glasgow s pre war slum underworld, the gorbals the savage, near truth descriptions, the raw character portrayals, bring to life a story that is fascinating, authentic and conno book. The story no mean city, is set in the 1920s and is about a guy named johnnie stark, a kindof gang member more a loner with a very bad outlook on life and a terrible abusive alcoholic father who lives in the gorbals which is a slum in the city of glasgow scotland. The glasgow evening times newspaper said no mean city had branded the city a collection of thugs and harlots and was the worst possible advertisement glasgow can have when the city is striving to. Devotional about the terrorist attck on glasgow airport addeddate 20070702 15. First published in 1935, it is the story of johnnie stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the razor king of glasgow s prewar slum underworld, the gorbals. However, the left was by no means politically dominant and glasgow voters still returned influential figures from the conservatives and unionists. Swhelper is an awardwinning progressive website dedicated to providing news, information, resources, and entertainment related to social welfare social justice, and social good. Glasgow fights no mean city tag, 75 years on reuters. Glasgow city health partners with social care in north east glasgow swhelper. A portrayal of life of young people growing up in the 1920s slums of glasgow in scotland. By the time macfarlanes tenement was knocked down in the early 1970s, he had left school and been rehoused in another part of the city.
Alexander mcarthur, of glasgow herbert kingsley long the story of life in the gorbals, a rundown slum district of glasgow now mostly demolished, but rebuilt in a contemporary style with the. The glasgow evening times said no mean city had branded the city a collection of thugs and harlots and was the worst possible advertisement glasgow can have when the city is. To post in the forums you will need to first register. Jan 05, 2010 glasgow, scotland reuters three quarters of a century since novel no mean city immortalised the savage life of a razorwielding glasgow street fighter, scotlands biggest city remains. No mean city s influence, however, is not limited to glasgow novels and short stories. Kingsley long 1st edition longmans and green, 1935 classic glasgow novel which exposed the condition of the city, its gang culture but also the resilience and quality of its people. Jan 05, 2010 the glasgow evening times said no mean city had branded the city a collection of thugs and harlots and was the worst possible advertisement glasgow can have when the city is striving to. It is the capital of the region xx and of the county xx. Oct 29, 2019 the gritty subculture of no mean city. May 08, 2014 the secret history of our street duke street, glasgow bbc duration.
In his last book, the real gorbals story, colin macfarlane detailed how he witnessed a once great area, home to wonderfu. Find glasgow hotels top 14 hotels in glasgow, united. True crime and punishment in the second city of the empire. We follow a teenage girl who is trying to find the man who made her pregnant, and publicly humiliate him. Out went the no mean city look and in came a new modern, more tolerant place to live. So it was with a mix of excitement and trepidation that i set off in 1970, aged seventeen, for four years of student life at glasgow university. Jan 01, 2005 mr alexander mcarthur, an unemployed worker in a glasgow slum, with the help of mr kingsley long, a london journalist, has produced such a book in no mean city. This article reconsiders mcarthur and longs treatment of class and gender ideology, and its effect on the representation of workingclass masculinity and. The secret history of our street duke street, glasgow bbc duration. The scottish city of glasgow has long been synonymous with the title of alexander mcarthur and h. Kingsley longs 1935 book no mean city, a novel that lay bare the violence and poverty of life in the gorbals, a prewar glasgow slum. It was written by mike moran, an acclaimed musician who wrote the classic track barcelona for freddie mercury.
While precise figures have never been kept, my own estimate is that this novel sold some 16,000 copies before the start of the second world war and it is still in print. No mean city by alexander mcarthur and h kingsley long lauded as a definitive account of glasgow life, this 1935 novel tells the story. Alexander mcarthur, of glasgow herbert kingsley long the story of life in the gorbals, a rundown slum district of glasgow now mostly demolished, but rebuilt in a contemporary style with the hard men and the razor gangs. A classic portrayal of the gritty, noir life of glasgow in the 1920s. Filled with vicious characters and poignant drama, this is a compelling view of prewar glasgow.
No mean city a whole new generation of artists, labels and promoters is blending rave with hip hop to create a uniquely glasgow sound words. Kingsley long tells the story of johnnie stark, the razor king of glasgow s prewar slum underworld, the gorbals. Revelations of a gorbals guy colin macfarlane download here. Kingsley long is one of the most influential glasglow novels of the twentieth century. Glasgow in black and white no mean city letterpile. Oct 11, 2006 this feature is not available right now.
He also wrote a song called snot rap for kenny everett, but we wont dwell on that. Right about here is where i would be posting the pics i took today around the city. When she finds him, she sees that he is with another girl. No book is associated with the city of glasgow than no mean city first published in 1935, it is the story of johnnie stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the razor king of glasgow s pre war slum underworld, the gorbals the savage, near truth descriptions, the raw character portrayals, bring to life a story that is fascinating, authentic and conno book is associated with the. In his last book, the real gorbals story, colin macfarlane detailed. From the 1920s the decline of glasgow s once influential liberal. No mean city a story of the glasgow slums by mcarthur. For instance, andrew bonar law 18581923 was conservative prime minister between 1922 and 1923. I would be dead now without books the convicted murderer set the standard for prison writing with a sense of freedom in 1977. In his last book, the real gorbals story, colin macfarlane detailed how he witnessed a once great area, home to. In his last book, the real gorbals story, colin macfarlane detailed how he witnessed a once great area, home to wonderful characters and grand old buildings, disappear before his eyes. Read no mean glasgow revelations of a gorbals guy by colin macfarlane available from rakuten kobo. Personally i think its fantastic and i would recommend it highly.
No mean city a story of the glasgow slums internet archive. This is the story of johnnie stark, son of a violent father and a downtrodden mother, the razor king of glasgow s prewar slum underworld, the gorbals link to no mean city on facebook tweet about no mean city. No mean glasgow ebook by colin macfarlane rakuten kobo. Now in its third year, the festival will feature cracking music acts playing various venues across the city between the 31st of august and 28th of september. No mean city is sung by maggie bell, the former lead singer of the 70s glasgow. The no mean city amazing name, by the way festival is all about celebrating americana music in glasgow. The glasgow razor gangs were violent gangs that existed in the east end and south side of glasgow, scotland in the late1920s and 1930s and were named for their weapon of choice. Glasgow, scotland reuters three quarters of a century since novel no mean city immortalised the savage life of a razorwielding glasgow street fighter, scotlands biggest city. No mean city rnib supporting blind and partially sighted. Christopher whyte argues that more than perhaps any other novel, no mean city has succeeded in imposing itself as a lasting representation of life in the city. These were brought together in 2005, with other pieces, in his highlyreceived work, this city now. No mean glasgow by colin macfarlane overdrive rakuten. Razor gangs, rampant sectarianism, and some fabulouslyrecreated 1920s glaswegian slang.
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