Discover Brendan McLaughlin: A Glasgow Storyteller
Celebrating one of Glasgow’s distinctive voices with a special Hoodstone collection
Glasgow has never been short of storytellers. Its history, humour, politics, music and people have inspired generations of writers and artists - and Brendan McLaughlin was one of those voices who understood the city from the inside.
To celebrate the launch of Hoodstone, we’re delighted to introduce a special collection bringing together three pieces of Brendan’s work: The First of May, The Sound of Glasgow, and The First of May CD, featuring 15 songs.
A Glasgow Storyteller
At the heart of the collection is The First of May, a personal and thoughtful reflection on Brendan’s experiences and observations.
The book explores Glasgow’s social, political and cultural history through memories of growing up, alongside Brendan’s thoughts on socialism, politics, art, music and the people who shaped his world.
It is personal without losing sight of the bigger picture — a story of one man’s experiences set against the changing character of a city.
Alongside it sits The Sound of Glasgow, a collection of short stories that takes us into some of the more intimate corners of Glasgow life.
Family, friendship, grief, addiction, community and the humour found in everyday situations all feature in these stories. Together, the two books offer different perspectives on Brendan’s writing while sharing the same strong sense of place.
Read together, they create a fuller picture of both the writer and the Glasgow that inspired him.
More Than an Author
Brendan’s relationship with Glasgow extended far beyond his writing.
As proprietor of the Scotia Bar and Clutha Vaults, as well as through his involvement in literature, politics and music, he became closely connected with the city’s creative and cultural communities.
These were places where people came together — to talk, listen to music, debate, laugh and share stories. That same spirit runs through Brendan’s work.
His writing reflects a Glasgow that is complicated, colourful, sometimes difficult, but always full of characters and stories worth remembering.
The Soundtrack to The First of May
The collection also includes The First of May CD, featuring 15 songs created as a soundtrack to the book.
Bringing Brendan’s writing and music together, the CD adds another dimension to the collection and provides an opportunity to experience his work through both words and song.
With 15 tracks — including songs written by Brendan — it becomes more than an accompanying CD; it forms part of the wider story of The First of May.
Three Pieces. One Glasgow Voice.
Whether you grew up in Glasgow, have a connection to the city, or simply enjoy discovering distinctive Scottish voices, this collection offers an opportunity to explore Brendan McLaughlin’s work and the world that shaped it.
Three pieces of work that come together to tell a bigger story about Glasgow, its people and one of its distinctive storytellers.
The special Hoodstone collection is available for £12.99 plus postage and packaging.
If you love Glasgow, Scottish stories, music and the characters who make a city what it is, Brendan McLaughlin’s work is well worth discovering.
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