Product Description

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 Thompson. 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; the characters have gone through too much together. In Robert Douglas's first novel, he recreates a time and place particular to Glasgow but to which everyone will relate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3159 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Review

'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' prose is simple and charming...this novel will appeal to fans of Douglas' previous trips down memory lane'

'Whose Turn for the Stairs? 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!'

About the Author
Now retired, Robert Douglas worked as a prison officer and an electricity chargehand. Although he has lived in Northumberland for many years, he says you can take the boy out of Glasgow, but you'll never take Glasgow out of the boy.

Customer Reviews

A fantastic read
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Robert Douglas's three volumes of autobiography I knew this would be a wonderful read and I was not disappointed. It is a lovely story full of very strong interesting characters-most of whom you warm to immediately. There is also a very nasty character but you just hope justice will be done. There is romance, friendship, poverty and hardship too, and the wonderful community spirit of people living together in a close knit community which sadly has been lost in this modern world. A truly entertaining and fabulous read from a first class author who is also one of the nicest people in the writing world.I cannot wait for the second volume next year and I highly recommend this to everyone.

brilliant
this is a brilliant book..i felt i knew everyone living in "The Close"..couldnt put this book down. enjoyed it so much, went back on Amazon and ordered all his other books...cant wait..

Another Great Book
I was so glad Robert Douglas wrote another book as he is so interesting.

This latest book, his first at fiction is every bit as good as his last three which were based on his life.

The other reviewer said there is to be a follow-up to this book, I can't wait!