Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Kate Clanchy

Courttia Newland

Jacob Ross

Kit de Waal

David Constantine

Alexei Sayle

Juliet Jacques

Holly Pester

Maggie Gee

Stuart Evers

Martyn Bedford

Joanna Quinn

Laura Hird

Matthew Holness

Michelle Green

Sandra Alland

Andy Hedgecock

Francesca Rhydderch

Whatever happened to British protest? For a nation that brought the world Chartism, the Suffragettes, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and so many other grassroots social movements, Britain rarely celebrates its long, great tradition of people power. In this timely and evocative collection, twenty authors have assembled to re-imagine key moments of British protest, from the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 to the anti-Iraq War demo of 2003. Written in close consultation with historians, sociologists and eyewitnesses - who also contribute afterwords - these stories follow fictional characters caught up in real-life struggles, offering a streetlevel perspective on the noble art of resistance. In the age of fake news and post-truth politics this book fights fiction with (well researched, historically accurate) fiction.

Stories of Resistance

Protest

This acclaimed debut novel by a talented Scottish writer journeys into the crises, complexities, rivalries, and generation gaps that exist among members of an ordinary family living in a deprived area of western Edinburgh. Original.

Born Free

From the Whitbread shortlisted author of 'Born Free', this title is a heart-breaking book about a mother's unending and unconditional love.

Letters from a Mother to Her Daughter

Dear Laura

PULL MY PIGTAILS. MAKE YOU CRY. FUCK OFF AND GET CANCER. I HOPE YOU DIE. Urban tales of despair and dysfunction are Laura Hird's trademark and she does not disappoint in Hope and Other Urban Tales. Set in the low-rent areas of Edinburgh, Hird's slices of reality are gritty, bleak, and often darkly funny. Yet the possibility of hope, always just out of reach, unifies this collection, conveying that just as circumstances can reveal the morally obscure darkness in "good" people, so can seemingly irredeemable characters harbour well-hidden pockets of humanity.

Hope and Other Urban Tales

When writer Laura Hird first left home to study in London her mother kept in touch with a stream of letters both deeply moving and extremely funny. June Hird - thwarted actress, insatiable reader and self-confessed "constipated romantic" is her daughter's staunchest supporter and harshest critic. She clearly struggled with "empty nest" feelings of loss, grief, freedom and pride. Her letters are full of advice, scolding and encouragement, gossip about friends and family as well as comments on culture and current affairs, hopes for her daughter and regrets about her own life. In the stunned space following the death of both of her parents, Laura Hird began to re-read her mother's letters. Hearing her mother's voice ringing from the pages she begins to examine the relationship between parents and child and confront her own feelings of guilt and grief.

Letters from a Mother to a Daughter

Sara Maitland

Whatever happened to British protest? For a nation that brought the world Chartism, the Suffragettes, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and so many other grassroots social movements, Britain rarely celebrates its long, great tradition of people power. In this timely and evocative collection, twenty authors have assembled to re-imagine key moments of British protest, from the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 to the anti-Iraq War demo of 2003. Written in close consultation with historians, sociologists and eyewitnesses – who also contribute afterwords – these stories follow fictional characters caught up in real-life struggles, offering a streetlevel perspective on the noble art of resistance. In the age of fake news and post-truth politics this book fights fiction with (well researched, historically accurate) fiction. Protests include the Peasants Revolt, Poll Tax Riots, Anti-Iraq War Demo and many more...

Irvine Welsh

Children of Albion Rovers is the best-selling and critically acclaimed collection of novellas that features six of the most exciting young writers to emerge from Scotland in the 90s: award-winning authors Irvine Welsh, Alan Warner, Gordon Legge, and James Meek and introducing the striking new talents of Laura Hird and Paul Reekie. Children of Albion Rovers is a world of tripped-out crematorium attendants (Alan Warner), vengeful traffic-wardens (James Meek), born-again vinyl junkies (Gordon Legge), and teenage girls who sexually humiliate their teachers (Laura Hird). Also included are Paul Reekie’s fictional account of ideals betrayed, and Irvine Welsh’s first ever sci-fi story, featuring alien space casuals wreaking havoc through the known universe. The resulting mix is intoxicating to say the least.

Children of Albion Rovers

Laura Hird

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