Our Glasgow: Memories of Life in Disappearing Britain

by Piers Dudgeon

This ebook edition contains the full text version as per the book. Doesn't include original photographic and illustrated material. This oral history of Glasgow spans most of the last century - a time of economic downturn and eventual renewal, in which the many communities making up the city experienced upheavals that tore some apart and brought others closer together. It tells of the beating heart of no mean city in the words of the people who made it what it is. Piers Dudgeon has listened to dozens of people who remember the city as it was, and who have lived through its many changes. They talk of childhood and education, of work and entertainment, of family, community values, health, politics, religion and music. Their stories will make you laugh and cry. It is people's own memories that make history real and this engrossing book captures them vividly.

Genres: History

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Piers Dudgeon is a British author of more than thirty works of nonfiction. After a decade as a London editor, he founded a publishing company working with writers including John Fowles, Catherine Cookson, Peter Ackroyd, Daphne du Maurier, Shirley Conran and Ted Hughes, later writing acclaimed literary biographies and cultural histories set in Yorkshire.

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was looking forward to returning to happy memories of being brought up in Finnieston, Glasgow during the late 1940s/50s/60s.
This book just didn’t do it.
Far too much emphasis on the gang warfare, something that the majority of Glaswegians never encountered. Yes they existed, but in terms of the total population they were more a nuisance and considered as low life, than any sort of threat to our daily lives.
No mentions of the truly enjoyable way of life in Glasgow in the 50s. Organisations such as the Brownies, the Lifeboys, the BB, the scouts, the youth clubs, the entertainment venues, the parks and all the good things Glasgow offered.
Very disappointing writing

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t even finish it. I wanted to hear the stories of Glasgow from the people, but the style of the book didn’t appeal -a lot of background info then a short sentence or two from somebody who lived through that time or that experience. It felt like I’d have to read for a long time before I got to the next interesting or funny comment from one of Glasgow’s people, so in the end I gave up and returned the book to the library.

[Fay McInnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Some of the information is repeated from other books I have read about Glasgow. It eventually became a book I dipped into to eventually complete . Probably only enjoyed by Glasweigans

[Sloath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This man loves Billy Connolly

[david swain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Carine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives you a nice feeling for what Glasgow must have been like back in the 1920s and '30s. Unfortunately, it reads like a first draft, and the sections where Dudgeon's not quoting people left me bewildered and frustrated by the obvious lack of editing. I'd like to read a better-written, more comprehensive text on the subject. Any suggestions?

[Steven Spector · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great memories of a place I visited once.